DASH breaks ground on DC metro region’s first en-route electric bus chargers

DASH, a public transit agency that serves the City of Alexandria, Virginia, has begun construction on what it says will be the first en-route electric bus chargers in the Washington DC metropolitan region.

En-route chargers enable electric buses to get a partial charge at stops along their routes (in addition to overnight charging at terminals). En-route charging helps to extend vehicle range, maximize fleet utilization and reduce service interruptions.

ABM, a facilities management provider that lists EV charging among its many services, will provide electric charging services for DASH’s West Alexandria Transit Center. (Read our in-depth interview with Satish Jayaram, ABM’s Senior Vice President of eMobility.)

The two overhead pantograph chargers will be capable of delivering charging speeds of up to 360 kilowatts. The deployment was funded through a partnership between DASH and the City of Alexandria, with some $1 million in federal funding. Construction of the new chargers is underway and is expected to be completed by 2027.

DASH currently operates 16 battery-electric buses, and an additional 20 are in procurement. The agency has worked with bus manufacturers to ensure that the new infrastructure is compatible with both its current electric fleet and future vehicle purchases.

“This project reflects years of planning and collaboration to support our transition to an all-electric fleet,” said DASH General Manager and CEO Josh Baker. “As the first en-route electric bus chargers in Northern Virginia and the DC region, this is a significant step toward a cleaner transit system.”

“Transit agencies like DASH are demonstrating that successful electrification starts with the right infrastructure,” said Mark Hawkinson, President of Technical Solutions at ABM. “By investing in charging solutions, DASH is building the operational foundation needed to support an electrified transit network for years to come.”

Source: ABM