(TSX: NFI, OTC: NFYEF) NFI Group Inc. (“NFI” or
the “Company”), a leading independent bus and coach manufacturer
and a leader in mobility solutions, today announced that XL Fleet
Corp. (NYSE: XL) (“XL Fleet”) and NFI subsidiary ARBOC Specialty
Vehicles, LLC (“ARBOC”) have announced a partnership to electrify
ARBOC Freedom low-floor buses with the XL Hybrid (XLH™) electric
propulsion system. The wheelchair-accessible buses are built on the
GM 4500 chassis and are now available for purchase with an
installed XL Hybrid system through the ARBOC North American dealer
network. ARBOC has sold 39 vehicles with the XL Hybrid system
installed thus far in 2021.
Through the partnership, 24-foot and 29-foot
ARBOC low-floor bus models are available for the first time as
hybrid electric units, providing a cost-effective option for
customers looking to improve fuel economy, lower emissions and
advance their sustainability goals without adding charging
infrastructure or disrupting their existing operations. The XL
Hybrid electric system runs in parallel to the OEM vehicle
drivetrain, helping to slow the vehicle down during deceleration
and providing an electric assist during acceleration throughout
normal drive cycles, reducing fuel consumption and lowering
emissions in standard gas-powered vehicles.
“We are pleased to be announce this strategic
partnership with XL Fleet to bring hybrid electric propulsion
systems to our ARBOC Freedom low-floor buses,” said Paul Soubry,
President and Chief Executive Officer, NFI. “As NFI continues to
lead the evolution to zero-emission—the
ZEvolution—we continue to look for creative
solutions to bring the best low- and zero-emission products and
solutions to our customers. Our strategy of being propulsion
agnostic has served us well, as there is no one-size-fits-all
approach for the evolution to zero-emission mobility. This
strategic partnership will allow us to bring a new hybrid electric,
accessible low-floor solution to operators who want to decrease
their operating costs in a sustainable and equitable way.”
Individual partners within the ARBOC North
American dealer network are now authorized to sell the XL Fleet
electrification system as an available option on their buses,
providing a new commercial channel for the Company as it expands
into a broader range of medium-duty applications.
“The bus industry represents a substantial
electrification opportunity for XL Fleet, and we are excited to
gain access to a great new customer base by partnering with an
accessible bus market leader like ARBOC,” said Dimitri Kazarinoff,
Chief Executive Officer, XL Fleet. “This partnership allows us to
expand our growing suite of products, broaden our customer reach,
and bring new and unique solutions to market for bus fleets needing
an immediate path forward for their sustainability goals.”
“The ARBOC Freedom is an innovative low-floor
platform allowing riders using wheelchairs and other mobility
devices to safely and comfortably get where they need to go. Now,
they can do so in a cleaner, greener vehicle,” said Doug Minix,
General Manager, ARBOC. “XL Fleet’s innovative hybrid electric
upfit technology gives our customers an opportunity to drive more
sustainable versions of the ARBOC vehicle lineup without
compromising our reliability while enhancing our world-class
performance.”
NFI is a leader in zero-emission mobility, with
electric vehicles operating or on order in more than 80 cities in
five countries. Today, NFI supports growing North American cities
with scalable, clean, and sustainable mobility solutions through a
four-pillar approach that includes buses and coaches, technology,
infrastructure, and workforce development. It also operates the
Vehicle Innovation Center (“VIC”), the first and only innovation
lab of its kind dedicated to advancing bus and coach technology and
providing workforce development. Since opening late 2017, the VIC
has hosted over 300 interactive events, welcoming 3,000 industry
professionals for EV and infrastructure training. For more
information, visit newflyer.com/VIC.
About NFI
Leveraging 450 years of combined experience, NFI
is leading the electrification of mass mobility around the world.
With zero-emission buses and coaches, infrastructure, and
technology, NFI meets today’s urban demands for scalable smart
mobility solutions. Together, NFI is enabling more livable cities
through connected, clean, and sustainable transportation.
With 8,000 team members in nine countries, NFI
is a leading global bus manufacturer of mass mobility solutions
under the brands New Flyer® (heavy-duty transit buses), MCI® (motor
coaches), Alexander Dennis Limited (single and double-deck buses),
Plaxton (motor coaches), ARBOC® (low-floor cutaway and medium-duty
buses), and NFI Parts™. NFI currently offers the widest range of
sustainable drive systems available, including zero-emission
electric (trolley, battery, and fuel cell), natural gas, electric
hybrid, and clean diesel. In total, NFI supports its installed base
of over 105,000 buses and coaches around the world. NFI common
shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol
NFI. News and information is available at www.nfigroup.com,
www.newflyer.com, www.mcicoach.com, www.arbocsv.com,
www.alexander-dennis.com, and www.nfi.parts.
About ARBOC
ARBOC is North America’s low-floor,
body-on-chassis (“cutaway”) bus leader serving transit, paratransit
and shuttle applications. With more than 4,000 buses produced,
ARBOC leads the low-floor cutaway bus market providing unsurpassed
passenger accessibility and comfort. Providing Equal Access for
Everyone®, ARBOC offers a medium-duty bus for transit and shuttle
applications, the Equess, as a diesel or CNG, or the Equess
CHARGE™, as their first zero-emission battery-electric bus. Further
information is available at www.arbocsv.com.
About XL Fleet Corp.
XL Fleet is a leading provider of vehicle
electrification solutions for commercial and municipal fleets in
North America, with more than 150 million miles driven by customers
such as The Coca-Cola Company, Verizon, Yale University and the
City of Boston. XL Fleet’s hybrid and plug-in hybrid electric drive
systems can increase fuel economy up to 25-50 percent and reduce
carbon dioxide emissions up to 20-33 percent, decreasing operating
costs and meeting sustainability goals while enhancing fleet
operations. XL Fleet’s plug-in hybrid electric drive system was
named one of TIME magazine's best inventions of 2019. For
additional information, please visit www.xlfleet.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may contain forward-looking
statements relating to expected future events and financial and
operating results of NFI Group that involve risks and
uncertainties. Although the forward-looking statements contained in
this press release are based upon what management believes to be
reasonable assumptions, investors cannot be assured that actual
results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements,
and the differences may be material. Actual results may differ
materially from management expectations as projected in such
forward-looking statements for a variety of reasons, including
market and general economic conditions and economic conditions of
and funding availability for customers to purchase buses and to
purchase parts or services, customers may not exercise options to
purchase additional buses, the ability of customers to suspend or
terminate contracts for convenience and the other risks and
uncertainties discussed in the materials filed with the Canadian
securities regulatory authorities and available on SEDAR at
www.sedar.com. Due to the potential impact of these factors, the
NFI Group disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise
any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise, unless required by
applicable law.
For media inquiries, please contact: Lindy Norris P:
320.406.3386 Lindy_Norris@newflyer.com
For investor inquiries, please contact: Stephen King P:
204.224.6382 Stephen.King@nfigroup.com
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