Texas public transportation provider CapMetro has electrified two bus lines and opened two new park-and-ride facilities. Both facilities feature overhead pantograph charging equipment supplied and supported by Camber Charging.

The Rapid 800 and Rapid 837 lines now operate entirely with electric buses, running every 10 to 15 minutes during peak hours.

Expo Center Park & Ride, the northeastern terminus of Rapid 837 in Austin, includes 159 customer parking spaces, 8 bus bays and overhead electric bus charging. Goodnight Ranch Park & Ride, the southeastern terminus of Rapid 800, includes 64 customer parking spaces, 4 bus bays and the same overhead charging capability. At both locations, buses charge automatically at the end of the line, extending each bus’s usable range beyond what an overnight charge at the depot can provide.

At CapMetro’s primary bus depot, Camber Charging supplied and installed two 1,440 kW Camber charging systems and 48 industrial dispensers. The installation provides 2.9 megawatts of charging capacity and can charge up to 48 buses simultaneously. Camber provides preventive maintenance, energy management software and remote diagnostics at the depot and both Rapid line terminals.

CapMetro COO and Executive VP Andy Skabowski said: “Instead of a typical bus holding 8 hours of charging, on-route charging takes that out to 20 to 22 hours. Every time that pantograph drops, we charge that bus. That’s what makes a commitment like 10- to 15-minute service possible.”

Camber President Brendan Harney said: “CapMetro set out to prove that a Rapid line can run more frequently without leaning on diesel to get there, and that meant the charging infrastructure had to work as hard as the buses themselves.”

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