The transportation company Metro has issued a recall affecting 47 of its electric hybrid buses that have been in service for less than a year. The buses’ lithium ion batteries, which houses the energy used to power the buses’ hybrid traction motors, are at risk of an electrical short out. The buses are manufactured by New Flyer, which notified Metro of the potential defect and submitted a recall notice to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
These 47 buses constitute only a small percentage of the company’s nearly 1,500-bus fleet. In conjunction with engineers employed by BAE Systems, Metro has determined the affected electric hybrid buses can be used as usual while the problem is corrected without posing a significant risk to passengers or motorists, but the company will begin retrofitting the buses with properly working auto parts, an operation to the company expects to finish by May.
To prevent further problems in the future, Metro will be conducting thorough mechanical inspections of the electric hybrid buses as it makes the necessary repairs..
As a Fresno car accident attorney, I sincerely hope this potential defect doesn’t cause harm to any bus passengers or motorists. If you or someone you care for has been injured in an accident caused by a malfunctioning auto part, I urge you to discuss the details of your case with a licensed Fresno personal injury lawyer.