The San Diego Metropolitan System (MTS) celebrated the start of construction on its new overhead electric bus charging system in the San Diego region.

The $8.5 million overhead gantry charging system is capable of charging 24 battery-electric buses at a time, and it is expandable to add more charging capacity as MTS transitions its fleet to all electric over the coming years. MTS will be installing the Schunk SLS 301 series Depot Charging Pantograph, which offers a quicker and safer hands-free electric vehicle charge. Buses can be docked in the depot in seconds and fully charged in just a few hours, which offers advantages for efficient operations for a clean energy fleet.

Construction is expected to be completed by early 2023, just in time for the new Iris Rapid route, which will consist of 60-foot electric buses serving one of the busiest South Bay corridors between Imperial Beach and Otay Mesa. MTS has plans to build similar overhead gantry charging systems at its other bus facilities by 2028.