We've written on this subject a number of times, but today’s theme seems to be recycling, so ...

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The Electric Bus Bust Rolls On

Beege Wellborn, HotAir

It's a comfort to know we, as in the American taxpayer, are no longer footing the bill for these abominations, these rolling climate cult public transportation fantasies. That's cold comfort to any of the taxpayers in municipalities who, in their greed and wokeness, grabbed at the federal largesse flying from Washington, D.C., to encourage the purchase of these electric bus monstrosities. Money that was only available to the exclusion of any more purchases of what used to be considered 'reliable' transportation - those diesel buses that took children to school and folks to work or their appointments around town for decades upon decades.

It was electric or bust because the climate cultists and Green grifters had decreed the future of transportation for the rest of us without any consultation on either our wishes or the feasibility of what was being mandated.

Problems surfaced almost immediately.

As early as 2023, electric buses purchased to take tykes to school in Vermont were found to experience extreme range shrinkage when it was cold out.

This was most unfortunate, as 'cold' occurs with regularity in *checks notes* Vermont...most often in the winter...I'm guessing. That didn't stop true believers in the state.

The conversation went something like this:

Pilot Program Report: electric buses cost twice as much, all had charging issues, lost 80% of their range in the cold, some failed completely

….

Fast forward a couple years, and school districts that are saddled with these buses - or bought them giddy with virtue-signaling warm fuzzies - are fending off all sorts of issues.

Like parents who want to know why their children have to freeze on what should be a warm bus ride in 23° weather in upstate New York.

Some expensive buses never even made it into service.

The latest battery-only vehicle fire news this week is from Wilbraham, Mass., where four brand new buses operated by the Lower Pioneer Valley Educational Collaborative paid for with multiple taxpayer-funded grants went up in smoke while charging. The buses were so new they had not even carried a single student to class. The fire released harmful pollutants into the air and left behind a scene of carnage that will be difficult and costly to clean up. The loss of the buses caused delays to students in the Hampden-Wilbraham Regional and Ludlow school districts.

(cont.) “at a cost of $163,000 each”.

In Vermont, Burlington’s mayor — who else? — was ever so proud of her city’s grabbing a huge basket of Biden Bucks:

“Adding five more electric buses to the GMT fleet marks another significant step in Burlington’s efforts to fight climate change and make progress toward our community’s Net Zero Energy goals,” stated Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak in a GMT press release. “These buses will help us decrease our reliance on fossil fuels, cut carbon emissions, and improve air quality in our City. I look forward to working with our partners to continue the electrification of the GMT fleet that serves Burlington and neighboring communities.”

Like they burned through eight million dollars.

GMT’s electric buses are less than a year old, but right now, they’re out of commission. The five “new flyer” electric buses’ batteries were recalled in November.

The manufacturer said they are a fire hazard, so they can’t sit in the GMT garage. That’s why they are all covered in snow.

The buses have to be 41 degrees to charge, and there’s not a day of 40s in sight.

Rely on old reliable. Not as sexy, but at least you eventually get there.

...With the electric fleet sidelined, GMT has been relying heavily on its remaining diesel buses, stretching an already tight budget and leaving little room for mechanical failures or disruptions.

And they're looking at suing the bus manufacturer if it doesn't come up with some sort of software update so they can charge their expensive lawn ornaments, since those new, garage safe replacements batteries won't be available for another eighteen months to two years.

...“In September 2025 we ordered 7 additional buses with a 2027 delivery date (but will be delivered with different batteries [than the recalled ones]), and 7 more slated for delivery in 2028,” Clark said. “This is the primary source of new buses for the next three years, as we have only 3 diesel buses anticipated.”

“Canceling the federal grant for electric bus purchases would result in us losing the grant funds,” Clark said. “It would not give us an opportunity to use the funds differently.”

“We will work with FTA to see if the grant can be modified for year 3 since those buses haven’t yet been ordered,” Clark said.

Clark also explained that the five electric buses were “operating well” until November 2025 when the batteries “were recalled for fire hazard.”

The recall prompted a software update from New Flyer to “decrease the likelihood for fire” that “included only allowing the bus to charge to 75% and to not allow charging when the battery is below 41 degrees,” Clark explained.

“Previously we could charge in any temperature to 100%,” Clark said.

As GMT’s bus garage “does not have suitable fire mitigation equipment to store or charge an electric bus indoors at this time,” the transportation system is unable to use its electric buses when temperatures hit below 41.

“Since the barrier to charging under 41 degrees is simply a software update, the manufacturer could find a technical solution that could resolve the problem this week,” Clark said. “We are seeking a financial remedy from New Flyer that could lead to litigation if not resolved.”

“New Flyer has indicated that replacement batteries will be installed within 18-24 months,” Clark said.

And these goobers went ahead and ordered seven more buses?!

Perhaps Burlington will also eventually get to a place where they reconsider their entire cultish devotion to the unworkable.

Everett, Washington, did, after much the same experience under far less trying conditions.

Everett's electric bus fleet faces setback, city turns to retrofitted diesel buses for now

Ongoing problems with a series of electric buses convinced Everett city leaders to scrap that part of the transit fleet and sell the vehicles.

Reliability issues and difficulty getting replacement parts drove the decision, which led to a city council vote earlier this week.

“It's kind of sad that whoever is providing them with the buses wasn't supporting them too well," said Paul Sheehan, transit rider.

Everett Transit owns nine of these buses and there are so many problems that right now only four are still in service. The city does have a backup plan and is looking to purchase reconfigured diesel buses so there are no gaps in service.