Depot charging

Most buses return to the depot after completing their scheduled daily transport tasks. The time they spend at the depot overnight – or during longer breaks – is ideal for charging electric bus batteries. This charging methos is known as depot charging. As battery technology advances, the range of electric buses continuous to grow, allowing daily routes to be completed without the need for midday recharging. This makes overnight depot charging the simplest and efficient way to power e-bus fleet. 

Depot charging is usually carried out using lower output power (approx. 50–150 kW). For this reason, depot charging is often referred to as slow charging. It is most commonly done via plug-in systems – using wall-mounted cabinets or mobile chargers. Pantograph charging is used less frequently.  

A complementary technology to depot charging is opportunity charging, or fast charging, using higher power levels. In this model, the charging infrastructure is located along the bus lines – you can read more about it HERE.