Amply Power, Duke Energy partner for bus fleet electrification initiative

Amply Power and Duke Energy Sustainable Solutions are working together on a bus fleet electrification initiative.

Through this collaboration, the companies will deliver overhead, renewable electric vehicle fleet charging from a solar canopy. It includes a patent-pending device that bridges the gap between solar energy and overhead DC fast charging for bus depots to charge reliably with renewable electricity. It is covered by a power purchase agreement (PPA) leasing and financing model. The patent-pending Pantograph In-Depot Equipment (PIDE) Canopy Mount allows fleets to reduce the cost of EV charging while leveraging renewable electricity.

Amply Power is an electric vehicle charging and energy management provider for fleets operating trucks, buses, vans, and light-duty vehicles.

“Solar PPAs and managed charging can help fleet operators double-down on the cost savings that electric vehicles already deliver compared to diesel. Solar power generation is usually an afterthought, and we developed this unique solution after witnessing transit agencies struggling with the costs associated with developing an overhead charging system,” Vic Shao, CEO of Amply Power, said. “Unlike diesel prices, electricity rate can fluctuate wildly throughout the day, sometimes by as much as 400%, making it impossible to ‘time the market’ and potentially wiping out EV savings. By combining overhead charging with a fixed rate of power, we are helping fleets bring predictability to their budgets and reduce their exposure to high rates.”

After it is built and installed in a depot, Amply Power and Duke Energy Sustainable Solutions will manage the solar charging and maintenance operations via a PPA. The solar and charging agreements extend 20 to 25 years and offer a fixed rate of power with no upfront capital expenditures.

“Our collaboration with AMPLY goes beyond solar carports with overhead chargers,” Dan Alcombright, managing director of growth implementation at Duke Energy Sustainable Solutions, said. “We are committed to supporting fleets in reaching their zero-emission targets while incorporating more resiliency into their operations and reducing their energy costs for charging.”

Teichert, a civil and structural engineering and construction firm, is the design builder of the PIDE canopy mount and solar carports.

AMPLY Power has partnered with several transit agencies to support their transition to electric, including Tri Delta Transit, Solano County Transit, and the Anaheim Transportation Network.