TL;DR
ChargePoint and Powers Parts have partnered to sell charging fleet hardware, software and telematics systems to transit agencies that operate PhoenixEV electric buses. The deal is aimed at operators struggling with service gaps after Proterra’s bankruptcy in 2023, routing ChargePoint’s platform through Powers Parts’ existing distribution network.
ChargePoint and Powers Parts, a national distributor of electric vehicle components and fleet replacement parts, have announced a partnership to sell ChargePoint charging fleet management hardware, software and services directly to transportation agencies across North America. The agreement is aimed at operators using E2 and ZX5 electric buses built by PhoenixEV. the company that acquired Proterra’s transit bus assets from bankruptcy in early 2024 for $3.5 million.
The association addresses 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 proper service, charging support or fleet management tools. Powers Parts built its business around supplying replacement components to exactly these operators. Add ChargePoints DC fast charging infrastructure and the telematics platform for that distribution channel provides transit agencies with a single acquisition channel for both spare parts and collection.
What does the deal include?
Through the partnership, transportation operators can purchase Charging Stations, fleet management software and telematics services from ChargePoint 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 compatible, meaning it can manage third-party charging hardware as well as ChargePoint’s own stations.
The telematics system also works with mixed fuel fleets, which is important because most transit agencies are gradually electrifying instead of replacing entire fleets at once. An agency managing a mix of diesel, compressed natural gas and electric buses can manage all three through a single interface.
The consequences of Proterra
Proterra filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in August 2023 after years of losses despite being one of the largest electric bus manufacturers in the United States. Its transit bus division was sold to Phoenix Motorcars, now PhoenixEV, for just $3.5 million. Volvo acquired Proterra’s battery and powertrain division for approximately $223 million. The charging infrastructure business was sold separately.
The bankruptcy left transportation agencies that had invested in Proterra buses in a difficult position. Spare parts, software updates and charging infrastructure support, which were previously handled by a single integrated supplier, were suddenly left behind. fragmented into several 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 difficult time for the electrification of transit in the United States. The Federal Transit Administration’s Low and Zero Emission Vehicle Program has allocated $5.6 billion over five years, from 2022 to 2026, prompting hundreds of agencies to order electric buses. But the transition has exposed real operational challengesincluding shorter-than-advertised battery life in extreme weather conditions, long charging times that disrupt programming, and a lean spare parts supply chain.
California, which leads the country 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 range reductions of 30% or more in winter, requiring more buses to cover the same routes.
The ChargePoint Fleet Game
For ChargePoint, the partnership extends a boost to fleet and transit charging that complements its broader consumer and commercial business. The company reported full fiscal 2026 revenue of $411 million and operates more than 1.37 million public and private cargo ports worldwide. Electric buses represent a growing part of that network.as transportation agencies electrify under federal mandates and funding incentives.
CEO Rick Wilmer described transportation as “critical to the broader electrification of transportation” and said the partnership with Powers Parts expands ChargePoint’s reach across the transportation ecosystem. The deal is a distribution deal, not a technological breakthrough, but for agencies grappling with the fallout from Proterra’s collapse, having a single channel for parts, charging and fleet software is a practical improvement over the current patchwork.
