JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Thousands of theme park guests ride shuttle buses every day without giving much thought to what powers the trip. Behind the scenes, a globally recognized entertainment and media company has been converting its theme park bus fleet from diesel to electric, creating a cleaner transportation option. As part of that effort, DRMP designed the electrical infrastructure for one of Florida’s largest electric bus charging depots, which can support up to 120 electric buses.
DRMP electrical engineers Justin Hayes, EIT, Jacksonville traffic group leader and project manager, and Nigel Atkinson, PE, traffic and intelligent transportation systems (ITS) electrical project manager, will present “Designing Transportation Infrastructure for Fleet Electrification: Lessons Learned from a Large-Scale Charging Depot” at the Aug. 6 luncheon hosted by the American Society of Highway Engineers (ASHE) Northeast Florida.
Attendees will learn how electric vehicle charging technology has evolved from onboard alternating current (AC) charging to centralized direct current (DC) fast charging systems and how that shift changes the electrical infrastructure required for large-scale fleet operations. AC is the type of electricity commonly used in homes and businesses, while DC delivers power directly to an electric vehicle’s battery, allowing buses to charge faster. Hayes and Atkinson also will share real-world lessons from delivering a fleet electrification project, including coordinating with equipment manufacturers and adapting to rapidly evolving technologies.
“One of the biggest lessons we learned from this project was how moving from onboard AC charging to centralized DC fast charging changes the infrastructure needed for a large electric bus fleet,” Hayes said. “As charging technology advances, engineers have to account for larger electrical systems, new equipment requirements, and coordination among multiple project partners.”
The project required DRMP’s electrical engineering team to coordinate several major systems within a single charging facility. The depot combines medium-voltage power distribution, centralized power conversion equipment, battery energy storage, and a floating solar photovoltaic system. The facility was constructed in three phases and includes 120 200-kilowatt charging dispensers.
Hayes said a major challenge was coordinating with the equipment manufacturer.
“Interestingly, the biggest challenges were not technical design challenges,” he said. “The electrical engineering itself was fairly straightforward once the equipment was defined. The greatest challenge was coordinating with the equipment manufacturer throughout a fast-paced project where the manufacturer's project management team changed multiple times.”
Each transition required reestablishing design decisions, confirming equipment requirements, and maintaining close communication to keep the project moving forward despite schedule changes and evolving equipment selections.
The innovation behind the project, Hayes said, was not the creation of new technology, but the integration of existing technologies at a much larger scale.
“By bringing together multiple energy systems within a single, coordinated charging facility, the project demonstrates how fleet charging infrastructure is evolving beyond standalone chargers into utility-scale electrical systems,” he said.
Atkinson said the project reflects the changes underway in transportation infrastructure as agencies plan for electric fleets.
“A key takeaway from this project is that fleet charging facilities are becoming part of a larger transportation ecosystem,” Atkinson said. “Engineers have to consider how these systems will operate over time, how they interact with one another, and how the infrastructure can adapt as transportation needs continue to change.”
About DRMP
Since 1977, DRMP has earned a reputation as a trusted multidisciplinary civil engineering and surveying firm delivering innovative infrastructure solutions that strengthen communities. What began as a Florida-based surveying practice has grown into a leading Southeastern engineering consulting firm with more than 1,000 professionals across 32 offices.
Today, DRMP’s engineers, planners, surveyors, and scientists partner with state transportation agencies, municipalities, federal clients, and private developers to plan, design, and deliver critical infrastructure. Our integrated services span surveying and geospatial services, civil engineering, land development, and community planning by supporting projects that improve transportation infrastructure and mobility, resilience, and quality of life across the Southeastern United States.
Ranked among Engineering News-Record’s Top 500 Design Firms in the United States, DRMP is recognized for helping clients solve complex infrastructure challenges through technical excellence, innovative thinking, and trusted partnerships.
At the heart of our success is a collaborative approach built on long-standing relationships with the clients and communities we serve. By combining deep technical expertise with responsive service and local insight, we deliver solutions that are both forward-thinking and grounded in the needs of the communities they support.
