ChargePoint partners with Powers Parts for electric bus transit charging.

      TL;DR: ChargePoint and Powers Parts have teamed up to sell charging hardware, software, and fleet telematics to transit agencies using PhoenixEV electric buses. This agreement aims to assist operators facing service challenges following Proterra’s bankruptcy in 2023, utilizing ChargePoint’s platform via Powers Parts’ established distribution network.

      ChargePoint and Powers Parts, a national distributor of electric vehicle components and fleet replacement parts, have formed a partnership to directly provide ChargePoint charging hardware, software, and fleet management services to transit agencies across North America. The deal specifically aims to support operators of the E2 and ZX5 electric buses manufactured by PhoenixEV, which purchased Proterra’s transit bus assets in early 2024 for $3.5 million following its bankruptcy.

      This collaboration tackles a significant issue: many transit agencies that acquired Proterra’s E2 and ZX5 electric buses prior to the 2023 bankruptcy are now running these vehicles without sufficient service, charging support, or fleet management resources. Powers Parts has focused its business on supplying replacement components to these operators. By incorporating ChargePoint’s DC fast-charging infrastructure and telematics platform into its distribution channel, transit agencies gain a unified procurement solution for both parts and charging.

      Partnership Details

      Through this collaboration, transit operators can obtain ChargePoint's charging stations, fleet management software, and telematics services via Powers Parts’ existing distribution network. ChargePoint’s telematics platform is compatible with all vehicle types and charging stations, regardless of the manufacturer, offering real-time insights into battery health, route efficiency, and total cost of ownership. The software complies with OCPP standards, allowing it to manage both ChargePoint's and third-party charging hardware.

      The telematics system is also suited for mixed-fuel fleets, which is crucial since many transit agencies are gradually electrifying rather than completely overhauling their fleets. An agency operating a combination of diesel, compressed natural gas, and electric buses can manage them all through a single interface.

      The Aftermath of Proterra

      Proterra filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in August 2023 after years of financial difficulties, despite being a leading electric bus manufacturer in the U.S. Its transit bus division was purchased by Phoenix Motorcars, now known as PhoenixEV, for a mere $3.5 million, while Volvo acquired Proterra’s battery and powertrain division for roughly $223 million. The charging infrastructure business was sold separately.

      The bankruptcy placed transit agencies that had invested in Proterra buses in a challenging position. Replacement parts, software updates, and charging infrastructure support, which were previously managed by one integrated provider, became segmented across multiple companies or entirely unavailable. Although PhoenixEV took over the bus platform and manufacturing rights, the overall service ecosystem needed to be rebuilt from the ground up.

      Transit Electrification Challenges

      This partnership comes at a challenging time for electric transit in the U.S. The Federal Transit Administration’s Low or No Emission Vehicle Program has allocated $5.6 billion over five years from 2022 to 2026, prompting hundreds of agencies to order electric buses. However, this transition has revealed significant operational obstacles, including lower-than-expected battery range in extreme weather, long charging times that disrupt scheduling, and a limited aftermarket parts supply chain.

      California, which is leading electric bus adoption in the country, has already postponed some of its zero-emission transit mandates to allow the market to stabilize. Agencies in colder regions have reported reductions in range of 30% or more during winter, necessitating more buses to maintain service on the same routes.

      ChargePoint’s Fleet Strategy

      For ChargePoint, this partnership represents a strategic move into fleet and transit charging, complementing its broader consumer and commercial operations. The company reported full fiscal year 2026 revenues of $411 million and operates over 1.37 million public and private charging ports globally. Electric buses make up an increasing part of that network as transit agencies electrify in response to federal mandates and funding incentives.

      CEO Rick Wilmer emphasized that transit is “critical to the broader electrification of transportation” and noted that the Powers Parts collaboration enhances ChargePoint’s presence within the transit ecosystem. While the agreement serves as a distribution pact rather than a technological innovation, it provides agencies grappling with the aftermath of Proterra’s demise a more streamlined method for acquiring parts, charging, and fleet software compared to the current fragmented situation.