Proterra introduced new high-power charging options to make a 100 percent electric bus fleet more easily achievable at the American Public Transportation Association’s (APTA) Bus & Paratransit Conference.

At the conference, Proterra introduced a new suite of high power DC chargers that comply with the present and the future standards. The three new Proterra power control systems range from 60kW-500kW and are compatible with J1772 CCS plug-in as well as J3105 inverted and roof-mounted overhead charging systems. The chargers will also utilize de facto industry-standard for communication, Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP 1.6). Proterra’s new charging systems are capable of bi-directional, vehicle-to-grid power flow (V2G), enabling the chargers to be smart-grid ready to maximize the energy management capability of an entire bus fleet.

Proterra overhead charging stations

David Carr, Facilities and Fleet Manager at RTC Washoe in Reno said, “With vehicle agnostic charging, we have peace of mind that our electric bus fleet infrastructure investments are future-proof.” Proterra’s new charging systems can charge transit fleets today and well into the future, with a range of power levels that can easily scale as infrastructure needs grow, both in-depot and on-route.

Proterra 60kW power control system

The Proterra 60kW power control system is built for fleets with longer available charge times at the depot. Recharge time is approximately six hours for an E2 Catalyst utilising a J1772-CCS plug-in connection.

Proterra 125kW power control system

Through Proterra’s 125kW power control system, fleets with high uptime requirements can simply plug in the charger to achieve a full charge in under three hours at the depot, with a standard E2 battery configuration.

Proterra 500kW power control system

Fleets with extended operating hours and high mileage requirements, such as 24-hour circulators can opt for the 500kW power control systems that deliver fast overhead charging on-route or at the depot, utilizing the J3105 overhead connection standard, and can recharge up to 38 miles (61.15 km) in 10 minutes, depending on battery configuration.

Proterra is collaborating with Schunk carbon technology to introduce pantograph-style of charging systems for battery-electric vehicles. Ryan Popple, Proterra, CEO, said, “By leveraging common charging standards for electric buses, the transit industry will avoid vendor lock-in and de-risk infrastructure investments, ultimately accelerating mass adoption of EVs.”

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