TL;DR
ChargePoint and Powers Parts are partnering to sell charging hardware, software and fleet telematics to transit agencies that operate PhoenixEV electric buses. The deal targets carriers struggling with service gaps following Proterra’s bankruptcy in 2023, routing the ChargePoint platform through Powers Parts’ existing distribution network.
ChargePoint and Powers Parts, a national distributor of electric vehicle components and fleet replacement parts, announced a partnership to sell ChargePoint charging hardware, software and fleet management services directly to transit agencies across North America. The contract targets operators operating the E2 and ZX5 electric buses built by PhoenixEV. The company that acquired Proterra’s transit bus assets He came out of bankruptcy in early 2024 for $3.5 million.
Partnership solves a specific problem. Many transit agencies that purchased Proterra’s E2 and ZX5 electric buses before the company’s bankruptcy in 2023 now operate those vehicles without adequate service, charging support or fleet management tools. Powers Parts built its business around providing these operators with replacement components. Adding ChargePoint DC fast charging infrastructure and a telematics platform into that distribution channel gives transit agencies a single purchasing path for both parts and loading.
What is included in the contract?
Through the partnership, transit operators can purchase ChargePoint’s charging stations, fleet management software and telematics services through Powers Parts’ existing distribution network. ChargePoint’s telematics platform integrates with all vehicle types and charging stations regardless of manufacturer, providing real-time visibility into battery health, route efficiency and total cost of ownership. The software is OCPP compliant, meaning it can control third-party chargers as well as ChargePoint’s own stations.
The telematics system also works with mixed-fuel fleets, as most transit agencies do is gradually electrified instead of replacing entire fleets at once. Running a mix of diesel, compressed natural gas and electric buses, the agency can manage all three through a single interface.
After Proterra
Proterra filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in August 2023 after years of losses, despite being one of the most prominent electric bus manufacturers in the United States. Its transit bus division was sold to Phoenix Motorcars, now PhoenixEV, for just $3.5 million. Volvo bought Proterra’s battery and powertrain division for about $223 million. The charging infrastructure business was sold separately.
The bankruptcy left transit agencies that invested in Proterra buses in a difficult position. Spare parts, software updates and charging infrastructure support, previously handled by a single integrated provider, suddenly happened. fragmented among many companies or simply not available. PhoenixEV inherited the bus platform and manufacturing rights, but the broader service ecosystem had to be rebuilt from the ground up.
Transit electrification under pressure
The partnership comes at a critical juncture for the electrification of US transit. The Federal Transit Administration’s Low- or Zero-Emissions Vehicle Program allocated $5.6 billion over five years from 2022 to 2026, forcing hundreds of agencies to order electric buses. But there is a transition revealed real operational problemsincluding shorter-than-advertised battery range in extreme weather conditions, long charging times that disrupt scheduling, and a thin aftermarket parts supply chain.
California, which leads the nation in electric bus adoption, has already delayed some of its zero-emission transit mandates to give the market time to stabilize. Agencies in colder climates have reported winter mileage drops of 30% or more, requiring more buses to cover the same routes.
ChargePoint’s fleet game
For ChargePoint, the partnership drives fleet and transit charging that complement its larger consumer and commercial business. The company reported revenue of $411 million for fiscal 2026 and operates more than 1.37 million public and private charging ports worldwide. Electric buses make up a growing share of this networkas transit agencies electrify under federal mandates and funding incentives.
CEO Rick Wilmer described transit as “critical to the broader electrification of transportation” and said the Powers Parts partnership expands ChargePoint’s reach in the transit ecosystem. The deal is a distribution deal, not a technological breakthrough, but for agencies dealing with the aftermath of the Proterra meltdown, having a single channel for parts, charging and fleet software is a practical improvement over the existing patch.
