CapMetro opens two charging terminals

CapMetro, the transit agency for Austin, Texas, has completed the construction of two new park-and-ride facilities designed to support the city's expanding fleet of electric buses.

The Goodnight Ranch and Expo Center terminals, first announced in June, are now operational. They serve the Rapid 800 and Rapid 837 routes, providing both passenger amenities and charging infrastructure at the endpoints of each line. The facilities connect to a charging network that originates at CapMetro's main bus depot, where partner Camber Charging installed two 1,440 kW systems. These systems power 48 industrial dispensers, creating a total capacity of 2.9 MW capable of charging up to 48 vehicles simultaneously overnight.

The terminals feature overhead pantograph chargers that allow buses to replenish their batteries after completing a run. This on-route charging method eliminates range concerns for return trips. CapMetro Chief Operations Officer Andy Skabowski stated that the approach extends service duration well beyond standard depot charging. He noted that while a typical bus holds eight hours of charge, on-route charging extends that to 20 to 22 hours. Skabowski explained that frequent charging enables the agency to maintain service intervals of 10 to 15 minutes.

The electric buses on these routes are built on the Xcelsior battery-electric transit platform manufactured by New Flyer. The vehicles deliver up to 320 all-electric horsepower, with full torque available at zero rpm. This power configuration is intended to accommodate the stop-and-go traffic patterns of Austin. New Flyer indicates the platform offers up to 660 kWh of available battery capacity, although specific battery specifications for the Austin fleet were not detailed in the agency's announcement.

Camber Charging manages the preventive maintenance and provides software for charger and energy management across the depot and the two new terminals. The company also handles remote diagnostics for the charging equipment at all three locations.