Austin’s Electric Bus Transition Faces Setback as 46 Buses Parked Amid Proterra Bankruptcy

Austin’s Electric Bus Dreams Hit a Speed Bump

It’s been quite the rollercoaster ride for CapMetro as they attempt to transition their bus fleet from gas-powered vehicles to a shiny, all-electric lineup. Just when they seemed to be cruising toward that goal, they’ve encountered a significant roadblock—46 of their brand-new electric buses are getting parked in storage for a year. Yep, you heard that right!

Bankruptcy Blues for Proterra

So, what’s the story behind this unexpected detour? Well, the trouble started when the manufacturer of those 46 buses, Proterra, filed for bankruptcy protection in 2023. At a recent Operations, Planning and Safety meeting, Chief Operating Officer Andrew Skabowski explained that the CapMetro board approved a resolution to stash those 46 buses away while awaiting better infrastructure to support their operation.

But hold on—it’s not all doom and gloom! Right now, CapMetro has a total of 104 electric buses in their fleet, which means about a quarter of their buses are equipped with battery-electric technology. Those electric buses cost around a cool $1 million each, with 58 made by Canadian-based New Flyer and the troubled 46 by Proterra.

New Ownership, Same Challenges

In a twist, Proterra was acquired in January by Phoenix Motor Inc., a company based in California. “Phoenix has been working on getting their operations back on track,” Skabowski remarked. However, he added that getting the necessary support for parts and technical assistance has not been easy. For the next year, it seems those 46 buses will just be gathering dust.

Electric Bus Program on Pause

This bump in the road adds another layer of complexity to CapMetro’s part of Project 2020. They had already hit the brakes on adding more electric buses back in July due to issues with efficiency and mechanical problems. This is particularly disappointing for Kara Kockelman, a professor at the University of Texas at Austin, who was excited about the potential health benefits of reducing diesel pollution. “Electric buses can make a significant impact because diesel is pretty rough on our lungs,” she noted.

Risky Business in New Technology

However, Kockelman emphasizes that delving into electric buses is a risky endeavor, especially considering how new and uncharted this territory is. “Austin decided to take the leap, while other cities are holding back to see how it goes for others. They’ve been cautious, unsure which manufacturers will even survive,” she pointed out. “Proterra seemed like a solid choice at the time.”

Electric vehicle buses are not mass-produced anywhere because of their size and the required infrastructure. Kockelman states, “Someone has to take the risk. This situation helps others learn for future orders.” Indeed, it seems that while CapMetro is facing challenges, other cities might be looking on with interest, hoping to avoid similar pitfalls.

Life Goes On for CapMetro

Despite the hiccup with the Proterra buses, CapMetro’s electric dream is not entirely dimmed. They will continue operating 40 of the 56 New Flyer buses, though there’s a catch—they can only be on the roads for eight hours at a time until in-line chargers are installed. “We’re making sure that we can reliably charge that bus and fix it when needed,” Skabowski assured. “Those buses have to be ready to hit the road whenever they are called to service.”

The Road Ahead

So, there you have it, folks! While it’s a tough moment for CapMetro, it looks like they’re still trying to keep things moving forward. The electric bus dream might be facing some tough challenges, but it’s certainly not over yet. Here’s hoping for some bright days ahead for Austin’s green transportation efforts!