Camber has supplied a high-power EV fast charging system to CapMetro, Austin’s public transit agency, marking a significant step in the city’s shift toward electrified public transportation.
The newly installed system adds 2.9 megawatts (MW) of charging capacity at CapMetro’s main bus depot, featuring two 1,440 kW Camber charging systems and 48 industrial dispensers capable of simultaneous charging. Camber will also provide maintenance, proprietary charger and energy management software, and remote diagnostic tools to optimize costs and efficiency.
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“With support from Camber, we have made tremendous strides toward achieving our vision to expand and improve the public transit system in Central Texas, allowing us to open up new, entirely electric routes,” said Dave Kubicek, executive vice president of CapMetro.
Austin has been at the forefront of EV adoption, with CapMetro committing $255 million in 2021 to purchase 197 electric buses—one of the largest EV fleet procurements in U.S. history. However, the transition has faced hurdles, including supply chain delays, inflation, and the bankruptcy of electric bus maker Proterra, which supplied part of the fleet.
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“The hardest part of a battery-electric bus turns out to be its infrastructure,” CapMetro President and CEO Dottie Watkins said during a board meeting last June.
Beyond depot charging, Camber’s chargers will support on-route power top-ups, allowing buses to return with a higher state of charge and reducing peak power demand at the central site. CapMetro previously announced it would store 46 Proterra electric buses for at least a year to address technical issues and expand charging infrastructure before deploying them into service.