All articles tagged with #electric buses
Norwegian and Danish authorities are urgently addressing security concerns after discovering that Chinese-made electric buses, used in Oslo and Denmark, could be remotely accessed and controlled by their manufacturer, raising fears about the safety and security of Chinese EVs across Europe.
A fire at a Philadelphia SEPTA bus storage yard, involving decommissioned buses including 15 electric ones, was brought under control after burning for nearly two hours. No injuries occurred, but health officials warned residents about toxic fumes and advised staying indoors. The cause of the fire is unknown, and authorities are investigating whether the electric buses played a role.
Michigan is set to receive $25 million in federal funding to add 104 electric school buses across 27 school districts as part of the 2023 Clean School Bus Program. This initiative aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality for schoolchildren. Grand Rapids Public Schools and the Kent Intermediate School District will receive the largest shares of the funding, with plans to add 15 electric buses each. The state has also allocated $125 million in state funds to further support the transition to cleaner school transportation.
The Biden-Harris Administration announced nearly $900 million in funding through the EPA's Clean School Bus Program to replace over 3,400 diesel school buses with cleaner alternatives, primarily electric, across 530 districts. This initiative aims to improve air quality, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and support American manufacturing, particularly benefiting low-income, rural, and Tribal communities.
Cities across the US are facing challenges with inoperable electric buses, with issues ranging from software and mechanical problems to the inability to obtain replacement parts, following the bankruptcy of electric bus manufacturer Proterra. Some cities have paused purchasing all-electric transit vehicles and are opting for hybrid models until EV technology improves. However, Proterra's transit bus division has been purchased by Phoenix Motorcars, which aims to address these challenges by restocking spare parts and providing service technicians to get inoperable vehicles fixed, with the hope of resolving customer issues within the next six to nine months.
The city of Asheville, North Carolina, spent millions on five electric buses in 2018, but now three of them are out of commission due to software and mechanical issues, including a broken door that can't be replaced. The manufacturer, Proterra, filed for bankruptcy, leaving parts and services unavailable. The city faces significant losses from the investment, including maintenance costs and increased wear and tear on the rest of the fleet. Asheville has decided to pause further investment in electric technology until it can ensure the products will work, and is not pursuing the purchase of additional fully electric buses at this time.
Eight Michigan school districts, including Detroit, Lansing, and Pontiac, will receive federal funding to purchase a total of 60 new electric school buses as part of the Clean School Bus Program, aiming to transition from diesel to clean-energy buses. Each of the three mentioned school systems will receive $5.9 million to buy 15 electric buses.
The US Department of Transportation is awarding $1.7 billion in grants for buying zero- and low-emission buses, with the money going to transit projects in 46 states and territories. The grants will enable transit agencies and state and local governments to buy 1,700 U.S.-built buses, nearly half of which will have zero carbon emissions. The funding comes from the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure bill signed into law by President Joe Biden, who has made it a priority to put more electric vehicles on the road, especially for schools and public transit, in an effort to contain the damage from climate change.
The US Department of Transportation is awarding $1.7 billion in grants for buying zero- and low-emission buses, with the money going to transit projects in 46 states and territories. The grants will enable transit agencies and state and local governments to buy 1,700 U.S.-built buses, nearly half of which will have zero carbon emissions. Funding for the grants comes from the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure bill signed into law by President Joe Biden.
Nova Bus is closing its Plattsburgh manufacturing and delivery facility by 2025 and exiting bus production in the United States due to continued financial losses. The company plans to focus production in Canadian facilities in Quebec. The decision will gradually affect full-time positions by 2025. Nova Bus will continue to support US customers with parts and service requirements. The closure will have a huge impact on the North Country workforce and its suppliers and contractors.