Public Transit EV Charging

Public transit fleet operators encounter distinct challenges during the transition to electric vehicles. ABB’s energy management and electrical distribution solutions are specifically designed to meet these demands, enabling smooth operations and long-term success. Implementing charging infrastructure often requires upgrades to bus depots and facilities—including the installation of charging stations, enhancements to electrical systems, and potentially increased grid capacity to accommodate electric public transit and e-bus charging. ABB offers end-to-end solutions to support the infrastructure requirements to handle depot overnight charging and enroute charging needs.

EV Grid-to-Charger Contact Us - Public Transit

Scalable Power Solutions for Electric Public Transit

Whether you're outfitting urban depots for electric buses or supporting high-power charging at transit hubs, ABB delivers electrical solutions designed to scale with your fleet lifecycle plans. Ensure reliable, uninterrupted operations with ABB’s microgrid technologies, which help mitigate grid disruptions and provide a stable, resilient power supply for your electric public transportation network.

Build Future-Ready EV Transit Infrastructure

With EV charging technologies advancing quickly, transit agencies need infrastructure that can evolve with them. ABB offers scalable, future-proof solutions designed to support innovations like Megawatt Charging and Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G). Our charger-agnostic systems, engineered for a 20+ year lifespan, ensure long-term compatibility with next-generation e-bus chargers—keeping your electric fleet adaptable and ahead of the curve.

Cost Effective Solutions

Reduce peak energy expenses and optimize power distribution across your fleet according to operational needs with ABB’s cutting-edge energy management systems. Minimize operational costs through remote monitoring, diagnostics, and control of your electrical infrastructure—delivering reliable and efficient performance throughout your transit network.

Invest in a Smarter, More Sustainable Future

Utilize ABB’s advanced energy management systems to balance grid demand and integrate renewable energy sources such as solar power—reducing both carbon emissions and energy expenses. Track and compare performance across multiple transit depots, empowering data-driven decisions that enhance energy efficiency and strengthen a resilient, sustainable e-bus network.

Types of public transit EV charging

Depot overnight charging

Depot charging is typically performed overnight or during extended vehicle downtime, allowing fleet operators to benefit from lower off-peak electricity rates while ensuring that buses are fully charged and ready for service the next day. To support a fully electric fleet, depots must have sufficient electrical capacity and may require significant infrastructure upgrades.

Depot charging generally operates at lower power levels—Level 1 or 2 chargers—which leads to longer charging times, often spanning several hours. A reliable medium-voltage grid connection is critical to handle the depot’s overall energy demand. Additionally, advanced power management systems, including energy-sharing solutions, can optimize load distribution across multiple charging stations, improving efficiency and reducing grid strain.

En-route charging

En-route charging allows transit vehicles to recharge during scheduled stops throughout the day, eliminating the need to return to the depot for extended charging sessions. This method typically uses a medium-voltage grid connection paired with Level 3 high-power fast-charging infrastructure, making it ideal for high-frequency routes or long-distance operations where minimizing downtime is critical. Operating at power levels up to 600 kW, en-route charging delivers rapid energy boosts to keep vehicles in continuous service.

Pantograph systems enable automatic charging by connecting to the vehicle from above, typically topping off the battery in just 3 to 6 minutes—whether at a terminal, on-route stop, or depot—extending the vehicle’s range without disrupting the schedule.