Several school districts in the United States that purchased electric school buses from Lion Electric with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) funding are reporting serious mechanical and safety issues, with limited support from the Canadian manufacturer’s new investors.
In Massachusetts, all four Lion buses owned by Winthrop Public Schools are out of service. Two require repairs the district says are not worth the cost, citing a recurring cycle of breakdowns. Similar problems have emerged across other districts, with complaints ranging from power steering failure and loss of power to onboard charging system malfunctions and emergency exit door gaps.
Reports from school officials also highlight concerning design flaws, including the use of an auxiliary diesel heater with air intakes positioned to draw in dust from rural roads. In some cases, this undermines the intended environmental benefit of electric vehicles by reintroducing fossil fuel components into daily operations.
Despite receiving a capital injection from Groupe MACH president Vincent Chiara and Lion director Pierre Wilkie, Lion Electric appears to be shifting focus to its Class 8 electric truck production facility in Saint-Jérôme, Quebec. U.S. districts that had hoped to electrify their fleets are now reverting to diesel or seeking refunds for undelivered or non-functional vehicles.
The absence of a clear commitment from the new ownership to address warranty claims or restore service support has left many schools in limbo. With federal funding and student health at stake, districts are urging caution and calling for greater due diligence when selecting electric bus suppliers.
Source: Clean Trucking
