South Florida’s fleet of electric buses cost $126 million

South Florida’s $126 Million Electric Bus Fleet Faces Major Setbacks

Published on aiomiami.com – All information credited to the Miami Herald (Original article by Ashley Miznazi, updated February 22, 2025).

South Florida’s ambitious push toward greener public transportation has hit a major roadblock. Miami-Dade and Broward counties invested a combined $126 million in a fleet of electric buses designed to reduce pollution and cut long-term costs. Today, most of those buses are parked in maintenance yards, waiting for repairs that may never come.

The Big Investment

Miami-Dade spent $72 million on 69 buses (out of a contracted 75), funded largely by a half-penny transportation tax and supplemented by state and federal grants. Broward paid $54 million for 42 buses under its full-penny sales tax program. Both counties also invested heavily in the infrastructure needed to charge and maintain the fleets.

The investment was intended to usher in a cleaner, more sustainable era of public transit. However, less than a year after hitting the road, the majority of the electric buses are out of service.

Breakdowns and Bankruptcy

Proterra, the California-based company that manufactured the buses, filed for bankruptcy in 2023. Since then, both counties have struggled to get replacement parts and warranty service. Miami-Dade reports that, on any given day, only 5 to 7 buses out of 69 are operational. In Broward, the situation is even worse, with none of the 42 buses running routes earlier this month.

The buses break down on average every 600 miles, compared to 4,500 miles for the aging diesel fleet they were meant to replace. Proprietary technology and a lack of available parts have left local transit agencies scrambling for solutions.

Attempts at Recovery

A new company, Phoenix EV, purchased Proterra’s transit bus operations in February 2024. Phoenix has promised to address the backlog of repairs and extend warranties, but both counties remain skeptical of its ability to deliver. Broward officials have refused to accept delivery of the remaining 11 buses due to concerns about “empty promises” and ongoing reliability issues.

Meanwhile, Miami-Dade has ordered 100 new electric buses from New Flyer, a Canadian manufacturer with a stronger track record. Seventeen of these buses have already been delivered and will eventually service the South Miami-Dade Transit Way—the nation’s longest battery-electric Bus Rapid Transit system.

A Bumpy Road for EV Transit

South Florida’s experience highlights the growing pains of transitioning to electric public transportation. With only about 6,000 electric buses nationwide, the industry is still developing reliable supply chains for parts and maintenance. Analysts say these setbacks are “bumps in the road to electrification,” but the financial impact—and the frustration for local riders—has been significant.

For now, much of Miami-Dade and Broward’s expensive electric fleet sits idle, plastered with stickers reading “Your half penny at work”. Despite the challenges, both counties say they remain committed to cleaner transportation options and will continue working toward a sustainable future for public transit.

Source: This blog is based entirely on reporting by Ashley Miznazi for the Miami Herald. The original article, updated on February 22, 2025, can be read here.