‘Everett hates the environment’: Jake and Spike say city brought electric bus problem on itself

“The Jake and Spike Show” on KIRO Newsradio is not holding back its strong opinions about Everett’s electric bus fleet.

“Everett hates the environment,” host Jake Skorheim said, half in jest, arguing that if the city cared, leaders would get electric buses that actually worked. “They bought crap buses, and now they’re paying the price.”

Since 2018, Everett has invested in electric buses from Proterra, each costing around $1 million. However, these buses have faced numerous operational failures, leading to significant challenges for the city’s transit system.

“The buses started failing, and Everett tried to figure out how to work with them,” host Spike O’Neill explained. “But the company that sold them the buses began to falter and filed for bankruptcy in 2023.”

Listen to the discussion on The Jake and Spike Show below.

‘That’s Everett’s problem’

Proterra’s assets were acquired by Phoenix Motors in 2024, but the company has struggled to provide the necessary parts and services to maintain the buses. Similar issues have been reported in other cities, including Austin, Texas, and Miami, Florida.

“They bought crap buses,” Jake reiterates. “That’s Everett’s problem.”

Everett still operates ten buses from another manufacturer, Gillig, which have not experienced the same problems. The city plans to replace the failing electric buses with diesel-hybrid models, which are considered more reliable. And, they’re hoping to sell the electric buses.

Listen to “The Jake and Spike Show” weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. on KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.