April 27, 2023
HOLT Renewables will design and assemble a first-of-its-kind solar-powered charging infrastructure answer for CapMetro, the regional public transportation supplier in Austin, Texas, in collaboration with bp pulse.
In 2021, the CapMetro board accepted the acquisition of roughly 200 zero-emissions buses, the biggest procurement of battery electrical transit buses within the nation. To help CapMetro’s electrical bus fleet, the challenge requires progressive use of solar canopies that may produce renewable energy and double as a mounting construction to allow hands-free overhead charging. The regionally funded challenge will price $34 million.
“This project will be a gamechanger for our agency. We’ll be able to get more of our zero-emissions buses out on the road to provide a quieter and more comfortable ride for our customers,” mentioned Dottie Watkins, president and CEO of CapMetro. “We look forward to this partnership with HOLT Renewables as we continue to expand our sustainability efforts across the Central Texas region.”
HOLT Renewables will design and assemble a photovoltaic (PV) cover system, which converts daylight to usable electrical energy, spanning 12 acres with over 7,000 panels, and can power greater than 200 buses. The challenge may also make use of the nation’s largest deployment of pantograph depot chargers, that are overhead chargers that hook up with the car’s battery.
“We welcome the opportunity to work alongside CapMetro in pioneering the future of sustainable mobility,” mentioned Peter J. Holt, CEO and basic supervisor of HOLT. “This project will kickstart the transformation of public transportation in Central Texas and help our state move toward a more efficient solution for charging electric vehicles. We have seen the industry shifting toward green solutions, and this visionary initiative from CapMetro will better protect people and the planet while setting the standard for a cleaner transportation system.”
To help this challenge, bp pulse, the electrical car charging arm of worldwide energy firm bp, will oversee set up of their patent-pending mounting system, PIDE, that integrates pantograph charging with solar canopies. The PIDE cover mount is particularly designed to be hooked up to a tilted solar cover, enabling EV charging deployments with uneven surfaces, which is a typical barrier stopping wide-scale adoption of built-in solar and EV charging.
“We are thrilled to be a part of this project with CapMetro and HOLT Renewables to design and deploy a charging solution that will support the energy needs of the battery electric fleet while maximizing onsite renewable energy generation with solar canopies,” mentioned Vic Shao, president of bp pulse fleet. “This project is yet another example of the innovative solutions bp pulse is bringing to the market to accelerate electrification in transportation.”
CapMetro made a pledge to transition its bus fleet to zero emissions by 2035. The new infrastructure will probably be positioned at North Operations bus yard (North Ops) positioned at 9315 McNeil Rd. Construction is scheduled to start in October 2023.
“As an agency, we are very excited to be building out this infrastructure for our zero-emissions buses,” mentioned David Carr, director of zero-emissions automobiles for CapMetro. “This revolutionary project represents one of the largest deployments of pantograph bus chargers in North America, and it will give our agency the ability to continue expanding our zero-emissions bus fleet for a healthier Austin.”
HOLT Renewables focuses on delivering progressive options for industrial prospects nationwide. With a deal with offering tailor-made, built-in options that meet the particular energy and sustainability wants of its shoppers, the corporate has earned a repute as a dependable and trusted associate for establishments and industrial industries alike.
“The unique request from CapMetro for solar design and the integration of overhead charging was a challenging conceptual endeavor that our engineering and construction teams are eager to bring to life,” mentioned Aaron Arriaga, industrial challenge developer at HOLT Renewables. “Through innovative design and the use of onsite solar canopies, we will deliver a solution that will not only provide the energy needed to power an electric fleet but will also reduce the carbon footprint and contribute to a cleaner, greener future for Austin.”
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Tags: Austin Texas, industrial and industrial, solar charging station
