The Los Angeles Unified School District is in the process of checking its electric buses after the company behind the vehicles issued a voluntary recall, district officials told NBC4 Investigates Friday.
Blue Bird, the manufacturer of electric school buses, including the LAUSD vehicles, notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) after one of its products crashed into a tree in Illinois last November. It appears the electrical system shut down, likely due to a loose power cable.
The recall report states, “Loose 12V cables can cause intermittent system failures or total loss of vehicle functions, including instrument panel displays, steering assist, braking assist, or traction motor shut down.”
Blue Bird told NBC4 Investigates in an emailed statement that “no injuries or fatalities have been reported due to this issue,” adding that the company will notify affected customers no later than Feb. 17, as required by the NHTSA.
The LAUSD, which made a big push to go electric in the last few years, said it has a fleet of 250 electric buses, many of which were manufactured by Blue Bird.
The district told NBC4 Investigates that the voluntary recall has no impact to student safety or transportation service.
“All routes are operating as scheduled while we complete manufacturer-recommended inspections and updates,” said the LAUSD, explaining that its bus fleet is diversified with multiple manufacturers and models.
A spokesperson from the district also said there have been no reports of electric school buses losing power locally.
But last month, an electric bus with the LA Unified caught fire under the 210 Freeway overpass in Lake View Terrace. There were no students inside, and no one was injured.
The LAUSD said the school bus fire was still under investigation led by the energy security agency.
When asked whether the district would notify schools or parents about inspections or repairs on the electric buses, the LAUSD did not provide a direct response.