Photo: Siemens
The Washington, DC, metro area is getting its first en-route overhead pantograph electric bus chargers.
Construction has started on two overhead pantograph chargers for DASH (Alexandria Transit) in Alexandria, Virginia. The chargers, located at the West Alexandria Transit Center near the former Landmark Mall site, will allow electric buses to recharge on their routes.
A pantograph arm extends from a charging station and connects with a receptor on the bus’s roof, providing a high-power DC charging connection. (It will look something like the example photo above.)
Buses can recharge their batteries much more quickly and stay in service throughout the day, enabling agencies to run longer routes with fewer interruptions. The two overhead pantograph chargers will each deliver up to 360 kW of power.
The project is the first of its kind in Northern Virginia and the DC metro region.
DASH says the chargers are a key part of its plan to transition to a fully zero-emission bus fleet.
The project received more than $1 million in federal funding through the Fiscal Year 2024 Consolidated Appropriations Act. The funding was secured with support from Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA) and the region’s federal delegation.
The charging system is being provided by ABM, whose Technical Solutions division specializes in EV charging infrastructure for commercial and transit fleets.
“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 innovative charging solutions, DASH is building the operational foundation needed to support a more resilient, reliable, and electrified transit network for years to come.”
DASH says it worked closely with bus manufacturers to make sure the charging equipment will work with both its current battery-electric buses and future vehicle purchases.
The agency has been working toward a fully zero-emission fleet since Alexandria adopted that goal in 2019. So far, DASH has put 16 battery-electric buses into service, and another 20 are funded and being procured.
The transit agency also began expanding its bus depot in late 2025. The upgraded facility will accommodate up to 30 additional electric buses and infrastructure for as many as 24 more overhead pantograph chargers.
Construction of the new en-route chargers is expected to wrap up in 2027.
Read more: Electrify America opens its biggest battery-backed charging station
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