CapMetro Opens Two Terminals to Enable 22-Hour Electric Bus Shifts
New overhead chargers at Goodnight Ranch and Expo Center allow CapMetro to extend service hours on Rapid 800 and 837 routes.
By Jason Kovalenko ·
CapMetro has opened the Goodnight Ranch and Expo Center park-and-ride facilities, both equipped with overhead pantograph charging systems for electric buses. The agency announced the sites in June, and they have now begun operating alongside the Rapid 800 and Rapid 837 routes. The infrastructure allows buses to recharge their batteries at the end of each run, eliminating range concerns for the return trip.
The charging network relies on equipment installed at CapMetro’s main bus depot by partner Camber Charging. The company supplied two 1,440 kW charging systems that connect to 48 industrial dispensers. This configuration provides a total charging capacity of 2.9 MW, enabling the depot to charge up to 48 electric buses simultaneously overnight.
Andy Skabowski, CapMetro’s Chief Operations Officer and Executive VP, stated that the on-route charging strategy significantly extends vehicle uptime. He noted that a typical bus holds eight hours of charge, but the new system extends that to 20 or 22 hours. Skabowski explained that every time the pantograph drops to charge, it enables the agency to commit to service intervals of 10 to 15 minutes.
The buses in the fleet are built on the Xcelsior battery-electric transit platform by New Flyer, a Canadian manufacturer. New Flyer indicates the platform can offer up to 660 kWh of available capacity. The vehicles produce up to 320 all-electric horsepower with full torque available at 0 rpm, a specification that suits the stop-and-go traffic patterns in Austin.
Camber Charging manages preventive maintenance, charger software, energy management systems, and remote diagnostics across all three charging locations. The agency did not include specific battery specifications in its release, relying instead on the manufacturer’s platform data.
The new terminals provide improved passenger amenities at the end of the Rapid 800 and Rapid 837 lines. The facilities serve as the endpoints for the electrified routes, integrating passenger access with the vehicle charging infrastructure.
CapMetro will continue to operate the two new terminals alongside its existing depot infrastructure. The agency aims to support a growing fleet of electric buses serving the city through this expanded charging network.
