Seattle, WA / Chesapeake, VA, August 12, 2024 – In a forward-thinking move to enhance the efficiency and reliability of its electric fleet operations, King County Metro (KCM) has entered a five-year partnership with INIT to provide an advanced vehicle health monitoring system and smart charge management system from CarMedialab, a member of the INIT Group. The cloud-based technologies will be conveyed across an initial forty-five battery-powered electric buses and trolleybuses, eventually extending to a total of 500 battery electric coaches and 174 trolleys over the contract term. 

Scott Niskanen, project manager at King County Metro, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership and the project's future: "This RFP award for MOBILEcharge and MOBILEvhm enables King County Metro to deliver quality service with an electrified coach fleet. This technology supports King County Metro’s mandate of Zero Emissions by 2035 and is made possible through collaboration between Metro, KCIT, CarMediaLab, and INIT."

By integrating MOBILEvhm software with INIT's existing onboard computers, KCM will achieve real-time vehicle health monitoring, enabling proactive maintenance, reduced downtime, and enhanced service reliability.

MOBILEcharge will also be implemented as a cloud solution equipping both existing and future charging stations. A total of 369 charging stations will be outfitted offering parallel, controlled, and automated charging processes by connecting charging points, the electricity supply, and operational information systems. MOBILEcharge will calculate KCM’s charging plans for all upcoming charging operations by load shifting. This means that the vehicles arrive at the depot and are connected to the charging cable, but the charging process, controlled by MOBILEcharge, starts at a later time and with a lower capacity. Further savings will be realized when vehicles are charged during more economical times when electricity prices are lower. 

The long-standing partnership between KCM and INIT began years ago with an Intermodal Transport Control System for full fleet operations. Then, in 2022, the regional ORCA fare system was launched, underscoring the success of a fully integrated ITS system.

KCM's electrification project marks a significant advancement in achieving a greener, more sustainable future for public transportation, which benefits both the community and the environment.

About KCM

King County Metro's mission is to provide the best possible public transportation services and improve regional mobility and quality of life in King County. Metro was named Best Large Transit Agency in North America by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) in 2018. The agency also was recognized by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) as the nation’s most equitable agency in tackling climate change in 2022.