Camber expands transit fleet charging in Central Texas

Camber, a commercial fleet charging company, announced it was expanding its partnership with public transit agency CapMetro of Austin, Texas, by delivering 2.9 MW of power to the agency’s primary bus depot. The installation allows the charging of up to 48 battery-electric (BE) buses simultaneously and supports CapMetro’s ongoing efforts to transition its bus fleet to zero-emissions vehicles, Camber said.

CapMetro EV bus charging with Camber equipment and software. (Photo: Camber/Business Wire)

Camber said it supplied and installed two 1,440 kW Camber Charging Systems and 48 Camber Industrial Dispensers. The company currently supports CapMetro with proactive and ongoing maintenance for reliable operations.

Camber, which said it has deployed over 1,500 DC fast chargers across North America, said it expects to provide CapMetro with its proprietary charger and energy management software as well as remote diagnostic tools to manage energy costs and lower the public fleet’s total cost of ownership.

“Our partnership with CapMetro represents a significant step forward in the electrification of public transit, showcasing how charging solutions at scale can empower communities to embrace a more sustainable future without sacrificing reliability,” said Brendan Harney, president of Camber.

Dave Kubicek, executive vice president of CapMetro, said Camber’s support has allowed the transit agency to advance toward achieving its vision of expanding and opening entirely electric routes in Central Texas.

“Austin has long been at the forefront of EV adoption, and we’re committed to sustaining that leadership while ensuring our citizens reach their destinations reliably and efficiently,” Kubicek said.

Camber said its chargers will also deliver on-route power and range extension so that buses return to the depot with a higher state of charge, thus reducing peak power demand at the central site. The company added that fleet operators benefit from on-route charging via higher vehicle availability and reduced downtime.

According to Camber, its electric vehicle (EV) charging system is compatible with a variety of vehicles, charging New Flyer buses as well as light-duty EVs. This allows one depot to support a mixed fleet with varying charging demands and power requirements, simplifying depot management and future-proofing operations.