A “minor fix” was needed after a reported high temperature alarm on one of the island’s new electric buses, a Government spokeswoman said last night.

She added that although there have been teething problems, the vehicles are working well.

The Department of Public Transportation spokeswoman explained: “As of last week, ten of the new electric buses are in service and their performance is being monitored daily.

“As with all new equipment, technical issues are recorded and addressed with the original equipment manufacturer as part of the warranty process.

“For example, there was a reported high temp alarm on one of the electric buses on Saturday.

“This turned out to be a minor fix and the bus has since returned to service.”

She added: “Notwithstanding usual teething issues, the electric buses are performing well.”

Roger Todd, the DPT director, said earlier that he expected the 30-strong fleet to cut the number of service cancellations and reduce costs.

The buses were manufactured by the Golden Dragon Bus Company in China and have been delivered in three instalments over the past two months.

Mr Todd said in February that the buses were “brand new, straight off the factory floor, with a shelf life of 12 years”.

They are equipped with CCTV and reversing cameras and have USB chargers at the seats.

The reduction in emissions is expected to be the equivalent of 1,500 fewer cars when the full complement of buses is operational.

A notice in the Official Gazettesaid that a contract worth almost $3.7 million from August to November 2021 was agreed with Xiamen Golden Dragon Bus for electric buses.

It showed that Bermuda Container Line signed a $265,871 deal for the transport of the vehicles to Bermuda, while electric charging stations were shipped to the island by Meyer Freight at a cost of $66,830.

The notice said that there was a $66,227 contract last December with Xiamen Xinfengyuan Industry Co for electric bus parts.