Austin Bus Terminals: Pantograph Chargers Extend Shifts to 22 Hours

CapMetro opened two new park-and-ride terminals in Austin today.

The Goodnight Ranch and Expo Center facilities now serve the Rapid 800 and Rapid 837 electric bus lines. They were announced in June and became operational this week. Each site features overhead pantograph charging equipment that allows buses to replenish their batteries at the end of their routes.

This setup changes how the agency manages its fleet. Instead of relying solely on overnight charging at the main depot, buses can perform quick top-ups while passengers transfer. CapMetro Chief Operations Officer Andy Skabowski said this approach significantly increases the time a vehicle can remain in service. He noted that a standard bus holds about eight hours of charge. With on-route charging, that duration extends to 20 or 22 hours. Skabowski explained that every time the pantograph drops, the bus receives a charge, which supports service intervals of 10 to 15 minutes.

The infrastructure connects to a larger network at CapMetro’s primary bus depot. Camber Charging installed two 1,440 kW systems there. These units feed into 48 industrial dispensers, creating a total capacity of 2.9 MW. The depot can charge up to 48 electric buses simultaneously during the night. The new terminals extend this grid along the specific routes, ensuring vehicles have enough power for return trips without range anxiety.

The buses themselves are New Flyer Xcelsior models. These vehicles produce up to 320 all-electric horsepower. New Flyer states the platform offers up to 660 kWh of available battery capacity, though CapMetro did not specify the exact battery size for the Austin fleet. The vehicles are designed to handle local stop-and-go traffic conditions.

Camber Charging is responsible for maintenance and software management across all three locations. The company provides remote diagnostics and energy management tools. This arrangement covers the depot and the two new terminals. The system aims to keep the growing electric fleet operational with minimal downtime.