New Partnership Tackles Electric Bus Fire Risk with Unified Thermal Safety

IRVINE, CA – March 18, 2026 – As cities across the globe race to replace diesel fleets with clean-running electric buses, a critical safety challenge is emerging from the depots and maintenance bays: the unique and volatile risk of lithium-ion battery fires. Addressing this concern head-on, thermal imaging specialist moviTHERM and transit safety provider Troman Industries today announced a strategic partnership to deliver a unified thermal monitoring platform designed to protect the growing number of electric transit vehicles.

The collaboration combines Irvine, California-based moviTHERM’s infrared imaging and cloud-based software with the on-vehicle detection and suppression hardware from Troman Industries of Elkhart, Indiana. The resulting integrated system promises a comprehensive safety net covering vehicles, charging infrastructure, and storage depots, aiming to detect dangerous heat build-up long before a catastrophic fire can ignite.

The Specter of Thermal Runaway

The transition to electric transit is a cornerstone of urban sustainability goals, but it has introduced a hazard that conventional fire safety systems were not designed to handle. Lithium-ion batteries, the power source for this revolution, can enter a state known as thermal runaway—an uncontrollable, self-heating chemical reaction that can cause batteries to vent flammable gases, explode, and burn at temperatures exceeding 4,900°F (2,700°C).

Recent incidents have underscored the severity of this risk. In 2022, an electric bus fire in a Hamden, Connecticut, maintenance facility prompted a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation, which determined that moisture intrusion into the battery system was the probable cause. The event led the local transit agency to temporarily pull its entire electric fleet from service. Similarly, a series of fires involving decommissioned electric buses at a Philadelphia storage yard triggered a Federal Transit Administration (FTA) inquiry into handling and storage protocols, highlighting the persistent danger even in non-operational vehicles.

These events, along with others in cities like Paris and London, illustrate that lithium-ion battery fires are difficult to extinguish and prone to reignition, posing a significant threat to personnel, surrounding vehicles, and infrastructure. The danger begins not with flames, but with heat. This critical pre-ignition phase is precisely what the new partnership intends to target.

A Unified Defense Against Heat

The moviTHERM-Troman platform is engineered to provide early warning by integrating two distinct but complementary technologies. moviTHERM brings over two decades of expertise in industrial thermal imaging, using high-resolution infrared cameras to continuously monitor for abnormal temperature spikes in battery packs, charging connections, and other critical electrical components. This data is streamed to a cloud-connected platform that can issue real-time alerts to fleet managers and safety personnel via any connected device.

This depot and infrastructure monitoring is paired with Troman's ruggedized, on-vehicle systems. Troman specializes in hardware developed specifically for the demanding transit environment, including on-board thermal detectors and fire suppression systems. By combining these capabilities, the platform offers a seamless shield of protection, whether a bus is on its route, plugged into a charger, or parked in a crowded depot overnight.

"The transit industry is under real pressure to modernize its approach to thermal safety, and this partnership gives agencies the tools to do that without having to piece together solutions from multiple vendors," said Markus Tarin, President and CEO of moviTHERM, in a statement. "Troman brings proven mobile detection hardware and deep transit domain knowledge. We bring two decades of thermal imaging expertise. Together, we cover the full picture."

This single-vendor approach is a key aspect of the offering, designed to simplify procurement and ensure system-wide compatibility for transit agencies that are often managing complex fleets and infrastructure from multiple manufacturers.

Market Opportunity and Adoption Hurdles

The market for such a solution is expanding rapidly. Projections show the global electric bus market growing exponentially, potentially reaching 1.3 million units by the end of the decade. This growth is fueled by government mandates and incentives aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, with this expansion comes heightened scrutiny from regulatory bodies like the NTSB and FTA, which have been increasingly focused on EV safety protocols and emergency response.

For transit agencies, the appeal of an integrated safety system is clear. It offers a proactive way to manage a high-consequence risk, protect billion-dollar investments in new fleets, and maintain public confidence in the safety of electric transit.

"We are delivering more than thermal detection, we are delivering peace of mind," noted Tony Cunnane, CEO of Troman Industries. "Transit agencies will now have a unified system capable of detecting overheating batteries, electrical components, and other thermal events."

Despite the clear need, adoption may face hurdles. The upfront cost of advanced safety systems can be a challenge for publicly funded transit agencies with tight budgets. Furthermore, while federal guidelines from the FTA and industry standards from bodies like the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) exist, explicit mandates for this specific type of integrated thermal monitoring are not yet in place. The partnership will likely need to demonstrate a strong return on investment, not just in preventing catastrophic failures but also in reducing operational disruptions and insurance liabilities.

Ultimately, the success of the electric transit revolution depends not only on its environmental benefits but also on its proven safety and reliability. By combining their specialized expertise, moviTHERM and Troman Industries are betting that proactive, intelligent thermal monitoring will become an indispensable component of the modern, sustainable transit system.