Liberal Texas city Austin parks its 46 new e-buses due to inadequate charging infrastructure
Just the News | 11/19/24 | Kevin KilloughThe Austin Monitor reports that 46 new electric buses – costing around $1 million each – will be in storage for at least a year due to lack of charging infrastructure to keep them running all day. The buses were manufactured by now-bankrupt Proterra, which has left city transit districts across the country with fleets of inoperable buses.
Proterra was acquired by Phoenix Motor Inc., which the Monitor reports is struggling to service warranties and repair technical issues.
The city’s transit board appropriated $255 million to buy 197 electric buses, some of which were manufactured by Minnesota-based New Flyer of America. In July, KUT News reported that Austin’s transit officials were beginning to realize that their ambitious e-bus plan was crumbling.
Let’s go!
Austin Transit looks down the street
As the grim truth brings them low
Ain’t no sound but the sound of some feet
Pedestrians ready to go
Are you ready? Hey
Are you ready for this?
Are you hanging on the edge of your seat?
Out of the doorway the millions slip
To the sound of the beat, yeah
Another bus bites the dust
Another bus bites the dust
And another one gone, and another one gone
Another bus bites the dust (yeah)
Hey, it’s gonna get you too
Another one bites the dust
How do you think you’re going to get home
Or to work , after they’re gone?
Took the city for all that they had
And skipped on down the road
Are you happy, are you satisfied?
How long can you stand the heat?
Out of the doorway the millions slip
To the sound of the beat, look out
Another one bites the dust
Another one bites the dust
And another bus gone, and another bus gone
Another one bites the dust
Hey, you’ll all be walking too
Another one bites the dust
Hey!
Oh, take it
Bite the dust
Bite the dust, hey
Fed – y Mercury
But they’ve done their part to save the planet.