Dive Brief:
- Alexandria, Virginia, broke ground Tuesday on two high-speed electric chargers that will recharge the city’s electric transit buses en route, avoiding trips back to the depot during the day.
- The 360-kilowatt overhead chargers can help extend vehicle range, improve fleet utilization and reduce service interruptions, according to an Alexandria Transit Company news release.
- The project supports the city’s and its transit system’s goals to transition the bus fleet to zero-emission vehicles. To date, 16 battery-electric buses are in service, with 20 more funded and in the procurement process, per the release.
Dive Insight:
Cities throughout the U.S. continue to add zero-emission transit buses to their fleets, according to Calstart, a national clean transportation advocacy group. As of July 2025, more than 8,000 full-size zero-emission buses have been funded, ordered, delivered or are on the road nationwide, a 16% increase over last year’s count, the organization said in its annual report.
“This project reflects years of planning and collaboration to support our transition to an all-electric fleet,” Alexandria Transit Company General Manager and CEO Josh Baker said in a statement. “As the first on-route electric bus chargers in Northern Virginia and the DC region, this is a monumental step toward a cleaner, quieter, and more sustainable transit system.” The transit system, known as DASH, operates fare-free.
The chargers will be installed at the West Alexandria Transit Center, where the buses can be charged while drivers take short breaks, according to The Alexandria Brief.
“By investing in electric transportation infrastructure, we are expanding mobility options, reducing emissions, and creating stronger connections between residents, jobs, housing, and services,” Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins said in a statement.
