NFI Group’s subsidiary, New Flyer America has received firm orders to manufacture 41 transit buses for the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) with options to supply up to an additional 432 buses.
The firm orders include the supply of 28 Xcelsior compressed natural gas (CNG) forty-foot buses and 13 Xcelsior CHARGE NG battery-electric forty-foot buses.
The five-year contract also includes options to purchase additional forty-foot and sixty-foot Xcelsior CNG and Xcelsior CHARGE NG battery-electric buses in the future.
Chris Stoddart, President, North American Bus and Coach, NFI said:The electrification of mass mobility is gaining momentum now, and NFI stands at the forefront of this evolution with its market-leading sustainable mobility solutions.
Through a partnership spanning nearly 30 years, NFI has delivered over 840 buses and coaches to MTS, and we are excited to continue working together as we support MTS’ transition to cleaner, more sustainable mobility with our high-performance low- and zero-emission buses. Together, we’re building healthier and more livable communities across San Diego.
This order is supported by Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funds to help MTS transition to a zero-emission bus fleet.
The zero-emission Xcelsior CHARGE NG buses will be equipped with long-range batteries and a new lightweight electric traction drive system with up to 90 percent energy recovery.
Sharon Cooney, MTS chief executive officer said:MTS and NFI have had a great working relationship for many years, and we look forward to continuing it with this new contract. To meet the demands of transitioning to all zero-emission bus fleet by 2040 we will need NFI to step up in a big way. As they continue to improve bus zero-emission technology and performance, I’m confident our transition will be successful.
