New Flyer completes New York's first interoperable, on-route charger

New Flyer of America Inc. successfully deployed two rapid, on-route chargers along New York City Transit Authority’s (NYCT) M42 route. This marks completion of the first on-route charging solution in the U.S. that uses a globally recognized system to allow vehicle and charging equipment interoperability to common interfaces.

The chargers are operated by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), acting through NYCT, as a part of an electric bus test and evaluation program. The program, officially launched in January 2018, continues to evaluate electric buses as a zero-emission solution for America’s largest public transit system.

New Flyer Infrastructure Solutions™ led project management, having engaged Black & Veatch to assist with engineering, permitting, and construction for the on-route charger equipment from Siemens.

New Flyer has actively participated and supported the North American adoption of global charging standards for electric buses and coaches, for both on-route and depot charging options. The Siemens on-route chargers installed as part of the system are interoperable, and follow OppCharge interfaces and the forthcoming Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) J3105 charging standard, allowing heavy-duty electric vehicles (EVs) of all types and models, including buses from other manufacturers that support and design to OppCharge standards, to utilize common on-route chargers.

Infrastructure Solutions is also currently overseeing and supporting similar on-route OppCharge charging deployments in Portland, Oregon; Minneapolis; and Vancouver.