10:30 AM

Metro’s First Electric Bus Delivery Delayed Due To Battery Fire Recall; DASH Buses Also Affected

Jordan Pascale



A New Flyer electric bus started on fire in Connecticut last year, which led to a recent recall affecting Metro’s electric bus delivery.
Hamden Fire Department

Metro is still waiting for its first electric buses — originally scheduled to arrive in February — because a bus fire in Connecticut has triggered a recall and is delaying the delivery. Four Alexandria DASH buses have also been pulled from their routes.

Last July, a 2021 New Flyer Xcelsior (XE) electric bus run by CTtransit became fully engulfed in flames after liquid coolant accumulated in a battery area, which led to an electrical short and fire. The bus had been charged, but would not start. Just before 4 a.m. the rear compartment started smoking in a maintenance area. Workers moved it outside and it erupted in flames around three hours later. Firefighters had trouble putting out the fire and it continued to smolder for two days. (Battery fires can be hard to put out, the NTSB says.)

The incident sent two maintenance workers to an area hospital where they were treated for smoke inhalation, according to Connecticut Public Radio.

The National Transportation Safety Board released before and after photos of the bus.



The National Transportation Safety Board released photos before and after the fire.
National Transportation Safety Board

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Autoweek reports that there are 1529.9 fires per 100,000 sales for gasoline vehicles and 25.1 fires per 100,000 sales for electric vehicles, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. EVFireSafe.com has identified 18 electric bus fires as of April 2022, including one in Frederick County, Maryland in 2016.

Lithium batteries have started on fire in cars, e-bikes, and scooters, like one that started on fire in downtown D.C. in 2019.