By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Albuquerque’s first electric buses were supposed to be the start of a shift toward cleaner public transportation. Four years later, all five are still in the city’s fleet but have not carried passengers since December because of mechanical problems and difficulty getting parts.
The city rolled out the fleet of electric buses back in June 2022 as part of its push for cleaner transportation, with plans to eventually transition to zero-emission vehicles by 2040. At the time, Mayor Tim Keller tied the buses to Albuquerque’s climate goals. “Public transportation has always been a more sustainable way to get around town and now these buses are helping us drive home our commitment to being 100% renewable by 2025,” Keller said. A year later, Proterra, the company that supplied the buses, filed for bankruptcy. Phoenix Motor acquired Proterra’s bus division in January 2024. Since December 2025, ABQ RIDE has not run the five buses because of mechanical problems and difficulty obtaining parts, according to a transit department spokesperson. In July 2023, the city announced an $18.2 million federal grant for 20 more electric buses and charging equipment through the Low or No Emission Vehicle Program, part of the Biden administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The buses were expected to arrive this year.
The five electric buses made up just 3% of the department’s fleet and cost $5.5 million. Federal funding covered $4.7 million, while general obligation bonds covered the remaining $800,000, according to the spokesperson. About 80% of ABQ RIDE’s buses are other types of low-emission vehicles, including compressed natural gas and hybrids, as the city works toward its cleaner transportation goals. Last year, the city received a $192,000 rebate from Public Service Co. of New Mexico (PNM) for its electric buses through a program that encourages New Mexico customers to switch to cleaner energy.
The parts problem was not unique to Albuquerque. A 2024 Fox Business report found transit agencies in several states struggling with Proterra buses that were out of service after the company’s bankruptcy. Phoenix Motor acquired Proterra’s bus division in January 2024. Jose Paul, Phoenix Motorcars’ chief revenue officer, said the company planned to “focus on restocking spare parts” because some suppliers had refused to sell to Proterra while it was under bankruptcy protection
ABQ RIDE is evaluating how to use the $18.2 million grant for new buses. At current vehicle prices, the grant could fund either 12 battery-electric buses or 18 compressed natural gas buses. The funding is not in jeopardy of being clawed back by the federal government or requiring the city to return it, according to the spokesperson. “As ABQ RIDE looks ahead, the department will continue exploring innovative technologies and fleet investments that strengthen transit service, reduce emissions and move toward a cleaner transportation system,” the spokesperson told The Paper’s City Desk.