The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) issued a warning Wednesday regarding the recall of 483 electric transit buses due to safety defects, according to a safety advisory. Phoenix Motorcars is voluntarily recalling Proterra 800V catalyst vehicles (2020-2021) and ZX5 Proterra transit buses (2020-2022) over concerns that they could catch fire. This recall follows a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) notice from September, which highlighted issues with the radiator fan electrical circuits overheating—a potential fire hazard.
A customer reported a Proterra bus emitting smoke in July 2021, with a second smoking incident occurring in January 2024, according to Smart Cities Dive. Phoenix Motorcars acquired Proterra’s transit buses after Proterra filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in August 2023.
The Biden-Harris administration’s green energy push, including its goal of building 500,000 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations nationwide by 2030, has faced delays and challenges. The rollout of electric buses has been problematic as well, with a Maryland county experiencing millions in “wasteful spending” due to mechanical issues, and multiple reports of electric buses catching fire nationwide. Despite these setbacks, school districts like California’s Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) are still transitioning to electric buses, even amid academic challenges in the district.
Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm has faced criticism for owning shares in Proterra, raising concerns about a conflict of interest. Granholm sold her shares only after the House Oversight Committee launched an investigation in May 2021.
Additionally, the U.S. EV market has struggled with lackluster customer demand. In April, Ford delayed production of a new EV line, and other automakers have scaled back their EV goals. Phoenix Motorcars has not responded to a request for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation.
