NHTSA recalls electric buses in use by NJ Transit
By: colleen Wilson
NorthJersey.com
USA Today Network - New Jersey
..... The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has recalled four models of New Flyer of America buses - one of which is being sued in NJ Transit's electric bus pilot - due to risks of fire from the high-voltage battery, said a September 20, 2025, alert.
.....
The alert said they "may experience a short circuit within the battery module when charging to near or full capacity," due to the high-voltage battery. The eight New Flyer buses NJ Transit purchased in 2021 for $9.4 million are equipped with the biggest battery storage system offered, 560 kilowatt hours.
..... "Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is completed. Owners are also advised to avoid charging vehicles above 75% capacity. The remedy is currently under development," the notification said Transit spokeswoman Aniali Hemphill said the agency's New Flyer electric buses have not had any fires and are safe to use, but the "range of the buses will be significantly restricted."
..... "The buses are safe to operate using interim safety measures provided by New Flyer. NJ Transit is complying with these safety measures," Hemphill said.
..... This is yet another speed bump in NJ transit's already-bumpy transition to zero-emission vehicles.
..... The agency has been criticized over the years for its slow switch to electric buses, despite former NJ Transit President and CEO Kevin Corbett's warnings that the technology still had kinks to work out.
..... Cities around the country have encountered problems with electric buses.
..... The Proterra electric buses in Philadelphia had malfunctioning parts and were taken out of service in 2020 after less than a year. While buses were parked and out of service, at least two batteries form the decommissioned buses erupted in flames. Range issues and reliability were also reported in New Mexico, Minnesota and recently in New York City. Proterra field for bankruptcy in 2023 and found buyers for three segments of the company.
..... NJ Transit began its electric bus pilot in October 2022 on several routes in Camden, a program that was delayed at least four times, in part because interested manufacturers requested more time during the request-for-proposal process. The agency is up against ambitious deadlines to transition its fleet to zero-emission vehicles after Governor Phil Murphy signed legislation requiring the agency to make zero-emission buses 10% of rolling stock purchases order by December 31, 2024, 50% by December 31, 2026 and 100% by December 31, 2032.
..... Another complex challenge is outfitting the agency's outdated bus garages to handle charging equipment and structuring charging times for buses in between service.
..... NJ Transit has estimated that it will need at least $1.3 billion to upgrade just five of its 16 garages to handle zero-emission vehicles. The agency was awarded at least $324 million in federal grants since 2020 to upgrade or expand some of tis depots, but some of those awards were paused by the Trump administration earlier this year. [2025] The agency is moving forward with more than 1,400 new diesel bus purchase in the next six years, and last month [09/2025] it unveiled one of its new New Flyer transit buses, which is equipped with a Tier 4 diesel engine, the cleanest calls of engines by federal e standards. NJ Transit's board also authorized the agency to buy 46 zero-emission buses this year [2025] - but when that purchase will actually be made is unknown.