Transit charging that keeps every bus on schedule

Chargers, software and service for transit fleets, planned from the grid connection to the route, so every bus goes out on time and energy costs stay under control.

Electric transit buses charging at ChargePoint Pedestal Express Links in a depot yard

70+

transit agencies run on ChargePoint

30,000

fleet charging ports

150

ChargePoint ports by 2028 for Big Blue Bus

Big Blue BusPSTASanta Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA)King County MetroGILLIGCounty of San Diego

Power, storage, charging and software, working as one

A depot needs a grid connection sized for the fleet, storage to take the edge off peaks, charging at every bay and software that keeps every bus on schedule.

ChargePoint and Eaton deliver all four as one integrated system. Eaton partners with ChargePoint on site design and power distribution, and the two companies developed the ChargePoint Express platform together.

An electric bus depot with ChargePoint Express Blocks and Express Links
One connected system from the grid to fleet readiness. Utility grid, transformer and switchgear, plus energy storage and optional solar, feed ChargePoint Express Blocks, the power cabinet that converts grid power and shares it across every Express Link: a Pedestal Express Link, an Overhead Express Link and a pantograph with Express Overhead Link, each charging an electric bus. ChargePoint charging management software and fleet telematics connect every layer. Grid connection and power distribution engineered with Eaton.

Charging infrastructure for every depot layout

Charge beside the bay, overhead above the lane or straight to the roof with a pantograph. Every depot configuration is made possible through a modular, connected architecture, so that you can scale as the fleet grows.

The ChargePoint Express Block power cabinet
The ChargePoint Pedestal Express Link
The ChargePoint Overhead Express Link mounted on a gantry above the lane
A ChargePoint pantograph on a gantry beside the Overhead Express Link that powers it
  1. Express Block

    The Express Block converts grid power once and shares it across every Express Link it feeds.

  2. Pedestal Express Link

    The Pedestal Express Link is a slim dispenser that sits beside each bay, which makes it the natural fit for existing bays and retrofits.

  3. Overhead Express Link

    The Overhead Express Link hangs above the lane, so buses park nose to tail and the floor stays clear.

  4. Pantograph with Express Overhead Link

    The pantograph lowers from an Express Overhead Link to the roof of the bus, so nobody handles a cable.

*FTA, FHWA, and BABA compliant

Every bus ready at pull-out

ChargePoint software plans every charge around the pull-out schedule and watches every bus, so dispatch knows at 10 p.m., not 4 a.m., that each one can finish its run.

ChargePoint pull-out schedule showing each bus, its bay and its charging status

Charging management

Charging management gives dispatch live status for every charger, with remote diagnostics and over-the-air updates. It shows which buses are charging, which are done and which are still waiting.

The ChargePoint dashboard showing stations online, energy dispensed and overnight depot energy against the demand ceiling

Energy management

ChargePoint helps you manage energy allocation intelligently. Power is shared across every charger and the site load is capped, and charging schedules are optimized against energy costs.

ChargePoint fleet view showing buses on route with state of charge

Fleet telematics

Fleet telematics brings state of charge, battery health, energy per route and faults for every bus into the same view dispatch already uses, whatever the manufacturer.

Megawatt-scale bus depot charging in a compact footprint

A ChargePoint Express Block converts grid power once and shares it across every Express Link it feeds, so the kilowatts go to the buses that need them, when they need them. Add Express Blocks and Express Links as the fleet grows, without rebuilding the yard.

1.8MW*

from up to three Express Blocks

Up to12*

ports across six Express Links

Up to656ft

from Express Block to Express Link, so cabinets stay out of the bays

*Future configurations. Capabilities not available at the initial launch.

ChargePoint Express Block cabinets and a Pedestal Express Link beside a PSTA electric bus

Illustrative depot load curve: unmanaged charging peaks when buses pull in and sets the demand charge; managed charging caps site load and spreads charging overnight until pull-out

  • Unmanaged charging
  • ChargePoint energy management
  • Battery storage covering the peak

Stop paying for peaks

ChargePoint helps you manage energy allocation intelligently.

Your utility bills you for the highest power draw of the month, not the average. ChargePoint keeps that peak down, without anyone watching a dashboard at 2 a.m. Energy management cuts bus depot demand charges by 30 to 70%.*

  • Share power across every charger and cap the site load
  • Shift charging to off-peak rates
  • Add battery storage to cover peak hours, with Eaton

*Based on ChargePoint fleet customers using ChargePoint Express Block hardware with ChargePoint energy management. Results vary by depot, tariff and schedule.

Plan your transition to electric

We model your routes and energy before we size your depot, design the charging system with your engineers and support every charger after go-live. Public agencies can buy through ChargePoint cooperative purchasing contracts, including Sourcewell, without running a separate bid.

01

Plan

We model your routes and energy, size the chargers and support the site design.

02

Build

Power distribution is engineered with Eaton, ChargePoint-certified technicians handle the installation and every charger is commissioned before it goes live.

03

Run

Assure Pro gives you a dedicated 24/7 technical team, proactive monitoring, parts and labor coverage and annual preventive maintenance.

04

Report

Grant compliance and sustainability reporting come from one view of your chargers and buses.

A planned electric bus depot yard with ChargePoint Express Links

Trusted by 70+ transit agencies

Big Blue Bus electric buses lined up at the Santa Monica depot

Big Blue Bus, Santa Monica

Big Blue Bus has 34 battery-electric buses in daily service and is building to 150 ChargePoint charge ports by 2028. It's converting its 195-bus fleet to zero emissions without modifying a single building.

Watch the webinarMore transit stories

34

battery-electric buses in daily service

150

ChargePoint ports by 2028

Over the past six years, strong partnerships have been one of the most important factors to the success of this project. We have worked closely with ChargePoint and Eaton, who are providing our charging equipment and key electrical infrastructure components.

Eric O’Connor, Assistant Director, Department of Transportation, City of Santa Monica

When everything works together, transit just works.

Tell us about your routes, your timeline and what's getting in the way. We'll take it from there.

Talk to an expert

Electric bus depot charging FAQ

Common questions from transit agencies

What infrastructure does an electric bus depot need?

Four layers: power distribution from the grid, a way to manage peak demand, DC chargers at each bay and software for energy, charger and fleet management. ChargePoint and Eaton deliver all four as one integrated system: Eaton partners with ChargePoint on site design and power distribution, and the two companies developed the ChargePoint Express platform together.

How are electric buses charged at a depot?

Most depots use DC charging in one of three layouts: Pedestal Express Links beside the bay, Overhead Express Links above the lane or pantographs that lower from an Express Overhead Link onto the roof. ChargePoint supports all three on the same system architecture.

How much power does an electric bus depot need?

It depends on fleet size, battery capacity, dwell time and pull-out schedule. Managed charging lowers the peak a depot needs. ChargePoint models routes and energy before sizing the site, and up to three Express Blocks deliver up to 1.8 megawatts.*

*Future configurations. Capabilities not available at the initial launch.

How do transit agencies reduce demand charges from bus charging?

Demand charges are set by a depot's highest power draw. ChargePoint energy management shares power across chargers, caps site load and schedules charging around pull-out times and rates, cutting peak demand charges by 30 to 70%.

Can battery storage reduce bus depot demand charges?

Yes. Storage charges when rates are low and discharges during peak hours, which flattens the depot's highest draw.

How do transit agencies plan an electric bus depot?

Start with routes and blocks, then model energy per bus, size chargers and power and design the site. ChargePoint handles route and energy modeling and site design support, and works with your engineers and contractors on the build.

Does ChargePoint work with buses and chargers from other manufacturers?

Yes. ChargePoint fleet telematics works with buses from any manufacturer, and ChargePoint software manages third-party chargers through OCPP.

Can transit agencies buy ChargePoint through cooperative purchasing?

Yes. ChargePoint holds multiple cooperative purchasing contracts, including Sourcewell, so US and Canadian public agencies can buy chargers, software and services without a separate bid.