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    Momentum Dynamics’ chargers used to power up electric bus fleet in central Washington

    June 21, 2022
    All 12 electric buses of the public transit agency now use the wireless chargers provided by Momentum Dynamics for automated high-power charging. Wenatchee is in Chelan County along the Cascade Mountains and is often called “Apple Capital of the World"
    Image credit Momentum Dynamics
    Chelan County Link Transit 62b1c0ed2e1bd

    Charging technology firm Momentum Dynamics completed the installation of four 300-kW inductive chargers for Link Transit in Wenatchee, Washington.

    All 12 electric buses of the public transit agency now use the wireless chargers provided by Momentum Dynamics for automated high-power charging. Wenatchee is in Chelan County along the Cascade Mountains and is sometimes called “Apple Capital of the World.”

    "Momentum's wireless chargers have been a game-changer for us," explained Link Transit's General Manager Richard DeRock. "They charge our electric buses for a few minutes on the layover between routes and provide additional range, allowing our buses to stay in service for 12 to 14 hours a day – even during the harsh cold of winter. Buses typically end their day with 40-50% of battery charge still remaining even on the coldest days. The cost savings are real and measurable. Along with the availability of inexpensive, clean, renewable hydro-power from the Columbia River and lower maintenance costs, it makes expansion of our fleet of battery-electric buses a financially sensible solution to combating climate change."

    DeRock said that the operating cost of the electric buses is approximately 51% of that of a diesel-fueled bus.

    As the transit agency continues to replace its aging fleet of diesel buses, it will receive three more 35-ft buses in early 2023 and eight 30-ft buses later that year. All these buses will use the same wireless chargers.

    Momentum Dynamics CEO Andy Daga said, “Wireless charging makes fleet management very efficient because the system delivers increased range and eliminates the need for a depot full of cables and chargers, all of which are subject to wear and tear and create a hazardous condition for workers. It is the most reliable and cost-effective charging system for fleets available today."

    About the Author

    EnergyTech Staff

    Rod Walton is senior editor for EnergyTech.com. He has spent 14 years covering the energy industry as a newspaper and trade journalist.

    Walton formerly was energy writer and business editor at the Tulsa World. Later, he spent six years covering the electricity power sector for Pennwell and Clarion Events. He joined Endeavor and EnergyTech in November 2021.

    He can be reached at [email protected]. 

    EnergyTech is focused on the mission critical and large-scale energy users and their sustainability and resiliency goals. These include the commercial and industrial sectors, as well as the military, universities, data centers and microgrids.

    Many large-scale energy users such as Fortune 500 companies, and mission-critical users such as military bases, universities, healthcare facilities, public safety and data centers, shifting their energy priorities to reach net-zero carbon goals within the coming decades. These include plans for renewable energy power purchase agreements, but also on-site resiliency projects such as microgrids, combined heat and power, rooftop solar, energy storage, digitalization and building efficiency upgrades.