Freudenberg Joins New Partnership to Support Emission-Free Mobility in the U.S
Building on a successful record of supplying premium, heavy duty, lithium-ion electric batteries to urban buses and other commercial vehicles, XALT Energy is proud to announce it is powering America’s first, long distance, all-electric passenger coach in tests with private and public transportation providers in the United States. XALT Energy, a company of Freudenberg Sealing Technologies, is a Midland, Michigan based global developer and manufacturer of lithium-ion technology solutions.
XALT Energy is working in partnership with Motor Coach Industries (MCI), a U.S.-subsidiary of NFl Group Inc. (NFl), to supply ultra-high energy lithium-ion battery packs for its zero-emission, MCI D45 CRTe LE CHARGE long-distance motor coach. The bus will be available to private and public transportation leaders in California and other states to test next-generation powertrain technology and improved accessibility developments. NFI, the parent company of New Flyer Industries Canada ULC and New Flyer of America Inc., is a bus manufacturer specializing in the manufacturing of transit buses and motor coaches and in the distribution of aftermarket parts. New Flyer is a long-standing, strategic customer to XALT and uses the company’s batteries to power its Xcelsior CHARGE™ all-electric urban buses that are running in cities across North America.
Xalt’s Ultra-high Energy Lithium-Ion Cell Platform Crucial to Success
President of XALT Energy, Jeff Michalski, said:We are excited to play an important role in getting this MCI test vehicle on the road and running – quietly, cleanly and reliably. XALT and its majority owner, Freudenberg Sealing Technologies, are committed to helping commercial vehicle manufacturers transition to new, clean electric energy sources with high-quality, single source, in-house battery systems that meet all Buy America federal requirements.
MCI president, Ian Smart, said:We are prepared to deliver a 100 percent battery electric coach that performs the same or better than our current clean diesel, hybrid and CNG models.
XALT’s ultra-high energy lithium-ion cell platform is crucial to this success. The XALT system is ideal for long-distance commuting needs. It ran between San Francisco and Sacramento, Calif., in late October in a maiden road trip.
FlixBus, Europe’s largest operator of long-distance bus travel, will test the bus through its FlixBus USA operations. FlixBus is expanding its innovative city-to-city long-distance service model in the U.S. After successful testing, FlixBus plans to order more all-electric MCI buses in the U.S. in 2020, according to a recent news announcement, with a goal of being 100 percent carbon-neutral by 2030.
MCI will send its D45 CRTe LE CHARGE to Altoona, Pa., for federal testing, as is required for all new bus models that are purchased using federal funds.
Unique Combination of Lithium-Ion Battery and Fuel Cell Expertise
In yet another nod to developing sustainable powertrain solutions for the world’s commercial transportation systems, Freudenberg Sealing Technologies and FlixBus in Europe announced in October their intention to collaborate on a future project that will promote development of fuel-cell powered long-distance buses. Freudenberg’s extensive experience in fuel cell technology was strengthened in 2018 with the purchase of a Munich-based fuel cell manufacturer. Going forward, this unique combination of lithium-ion battery and fuel cell expertise positions Freudenberg Sealing Technologies to take a lead role in developing electric battery, fuel cell and hybrid system solutions that meet the needs of heavy duty and commercial vehicle customers.
CEO of Freudenberg Sealing Technologies, Claus Moehlenkamp, said:As Freudenberg continues to invest in lithium-ion battery and fuel cell developments, we will pursue hybrid technology that addresses important issues like power, base load and unique operating cycles in a range of heavy-duty applications that include truck, bus, commercial marine and rail transportation. We are focused on the future, and that future is going to demand sustainable transportation solutions that eliminate production of CO2 emissions. We are ready to partner with other global transportation customers to further leverage our expertise and knowledge on their behalf.
Originally published here
