99.9% bus charging uptime delivered for the PTA
JET Charge partnered with the Public Transport Authority WA to deliver a turnkey electric bus charging solution at Elizabeth Quay Bus Station.
Designed to support 18 Volvo BZL electric buses, the project covered electrical and structural design, procurement, installation, commissioning, integration testing, and ongoing support.
Delivered from late 2023 to Q1 2025, the program followed clear performance milestones aligned to operational priorities – keeping buses moving, minimising downtime, and ensuring reliable day-to-day performance.
Innovative engineering underpinned the rollout, including a busduct design that reduced installation costs for high-current submains running from the Main Switchboard to the charging system, maintaining strong technical standards while improving cost efficiency.
The challenge
This project required JET Charge to deliver a system that could be commissioned quickly, integrate seamlessly, and operate consistently, without disrupting a busy public transport hub.
Key challenges included:
Tight delivery sequencing: Vehicle delivery timelines meant the charging system needed to be ready early enough to support integration testing, before the main installation schedule was complete.
Complex multi-system integration: The charging system had to operate smoothly across multiple platforms, including the Central Management System, chargers, and the Volvo BZL fleet.The complexity of this integration demanded extensive collaboration with multiple technology providers and comprehensive testing protocols to ensure operational reliability.
Minimal disruption to live operations: Elizabeth Quay is an active station. Construction needed to be planned and executed in a way that maintained day-to-day service continuity and safety.
Strict performance and compliance standards: All infrastructure was required to meet PTA’s minimum requirements for charging system functionality, reliability, and operational integration.
The solution
JET Charge delivered an end-to-end charging solution designed around uptime, operational simplicity, and long-term performance.
A few of the key elements included:
Turnkey delivery under one accountable partner: The project team, led by Project Manager Rob Conway, coordinated multiple internal JET Charge staff across design, procurement, installa- tion, commissioning, and maintenance functions, alongside various specialist subcontractors. Close collaboration with Public Transport Authority WA representatives ensured alignment with operational requirements and performance standards throughout delivery.
A smarter electrical design to reduce cost and complexity: JET Charge implemented a busduct design approach to reduce the cost and complexity of high-current submains running from the main switchboard to the charging location. This achieved major installation efficiencies while still meeting the technical and safety requirements expected for fleet-critical infrastructure.
Parallel commissioning to protect the overall schedule – To avoid delays caused by early
vehicle delivery, JET Charge airfreighted one charging system ahead of the broader delivery so integration testing could start early. This allowed vehicle commissioning to progress in parallel with infrastructure deployment, keeping the project on track.
Thorough integration testing for operational confidence – JET Charge completed detailed integration testing across the CMS, chargers, and buses to ensure the system performed as expected before handover.
Ongoing operational support built in from day one – The project included a structured operations and maintenance framework to support long-term reliability and performance optimisation.
Solution included:
- 3 x 320kW Kempower C800 Power Units
- 18 x Kempower 200A CCS2 Satellites
- 1 x 40kW Kempower T800 Moveable Charger
- JET Charge CORE Max Load Management System
The results
At Elizabeth Quay Bus Station, electric buses now roll in and out each day with the confidence that charging is simply taken care of.
Behind the scenes, the infrastructure was delivered on time and within budget, fully commissioned to support 18 Volvo BZL electric buses, and met every PTA minimum performance requirement from day one. Since going live, the chargers are operating at 99.9% uptime with 400 kW charging capability to keep buses moving on schedule.
For PTA, this means buses are charged and ready when they’re needed, with less operational risk from downtime.
99.9%
68MWh
400kW
Connect with JET Charge
*Based on charge connector average uptime % for 3 month period (Nov 25–Jan 26).