Texas Transit Agency Electrifies Two Bus Lines With Camber Charging EVSE
CapMetro’s new park-and-ride facilities feature overhead pantograph charging to support 10- to 15-minute service intervals.
CapMetro, a public transportation provider in Texas, has electrified two bus lines and opened two new park-and-ride facilities equipped with overhead pantograph charging systems supplied by Camber Charging.
What Happened
The Rapid 800 and Rapid 837 lines now operate entirely with electric buses, running every 10 to 15 minutes during peak hours. The newly opened Expo Center Park & Ride in Austin, the northeastern terminus of the Rapid 837 line, includes 159 customer parking spaces, 8 bus bays, and overhead electric bus charging. The Goodnight Ranch Park & Ride, serving as the southeastern terminus for the Rapid 800 line, features 64 customer parking spaces, 4 bus bays, and similar overhead charging capabilities. At both locations, buses charge automatically at the end of their routes, extending usable range beyond what overnight depot charging provides.
At CapMetro’s primary bus depot, Camber Charging installed two 1,440 kW charging systems and 48 industrial dispensers. This installation provides 2.9 megawatts of charging capacity, allowing up to 48 buses to charge simultaneously. Camber also provides preventive maintenance, energy management software, and remote diagnostics at the depot and both Rapid line terminals.
Why It Matters
The integration of on-route charging addresses range limitations for high-frequency transit operations. CapMetro COO and Executive VP Andy Skabowski explained that while a typical bus holds 8 hours of charge, on-route charging extends this to 20 or 22 hours. "Every time that pantograph drops, we charge that bus. That’s what makes a commitment like 10- to 15-minute service possible," Skabowski said. Camber President Brendan Harney noted that the infrastructure was designed to ensure the charging systems work as hard as the buses, allowing the agency to prove that Rapid lines can operate more frequently without relying on diesel.
The Bottom Line
CapMetro has fully electrified its Rapid 800 and Rapid 837 lines using Camber Charging’s overhead pantograph and depot systems, enabling high-frequency service through automated on-route charging and significant depot capacity.
