Colorado Springs, Denver and cities across the country have promised full-fleet transitions to transit buses powered by batteries. A Springs news release promised new electric buses that would arrive in time for Earth Day of 2022.
Activists and politicians, whether they believe it, tell us this transition to electric busing will deliver “zero-emissions” public transportation.
“These new buses are not only environmentally friendly, but also quiet and attractive,” said Craig Blewitt, Transit Services Manager, in the release. “This is an exciting addition to our bus fleet and the way we deliver service.”
That was then. When the buses arrived at $1.2 million each, half of them did not work and have seldom worked since. It renders meaningless the toil of child slaves who mine metals — essential to electric vehicles — under cruel conditions.
“So two of them (the buses) have drive motors out,” said Elaine Sheridan, spokeswoman with Colorado Springs’ Mountain Metro.
“… It has been various different things. We are working with the company that made them, Proterra. They’ve gone under Chapter 11 bankruptcy so now we’re in an even bigger issue because parts are a problem for Proterra.”