WINNIPEG, Nov. 27, 2014 /CNW/ - (TSX: NFI) (TSX: NFI.DB.U)
New Flyer Industries Inc. ("New Flyer" or the "Company"), the
leading manufacturer of heavy-duty transit buses in Canada and the
United States announced today that Winnipeg Transit will
begin daily service using up to four New Flyer Xcelsior®
battery-electric transit buses.
The buses will be in daily operation on a 40 kilometer, two-hour
route starting at Winnipeg Richardson International Airport, making
its way through the city center to East
Kildonan and returning to the airport. The route was chosen
as its length, speeds and loads are typical of many central
business district routes in Canada
and USA. Winnipeg Airports
Authority permitted New Flyer to install a high power charging
station at the airport, a project that completed in October of
2014.
"We didn't want an easy route," said Paul Soubry, New Flyer's President and Chief
Executive Officer. "We encouraged Winnipeg Transit to select a
route that would showcase the technological capability of our
Xcelsior battery-electric bus in a real life in-service situation
that will experience a wide range of weather and traffic
conditions."
Soubry explained, "Once at the airport the bus drives up to the
charging station and, while passengers are loading or disembarking,
a roof mounted pantograph (similar to the proven technology used in
city trams around the world) connects seamlessly with the overhead
charger interface. After approximately a 10 minute charge, the bus
has fully replenished the energy consumed in the previous two-hour
route. For added operational flexibility the battery capacity
allows the bus to operate for five hours without recharge and by
charging on route, the bus can maintain service for more than 20
hours a day, seven days a week."
The project is a continuing collaboration between New Flyer, the
Province of Manitoba, Manitoba
Hydro, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Red
River College and Winnipeg Transit. The project team which
started the effort in May of 2011, received additional assistance
in October 2012 when Sustainable
Development Technology Canada ("SDTC") announced funding on behalf
of the Government of Canada of
$3.4 million to take the project from
prototype to full production and field demonstration, and in 2014
when Manitoba's Vehicle Technology
Center provided an additional $94,000
for charging station development.
"This electric bus project is a key element in Manitoba's Clean Energy Strategy and supports
our commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote the
use of effective, cost-efficient, renewable energy," said
Eric Robinson, Minister responsible
for Manitoba Hydro. "Our innovative advancements in clean energy
technologies have contributed to our placement as the first in
Canada to employ the new, unique
on-route rapid charging system, promoting affordable public
transportation and electric vehicle knowledge which will create
jobs."
"Part of our vision for Winnipeg's future includes supporting
technology and innovation, especially when it is homegrown and the
end-users who benefit from it are Winnipeggers," said Mayor
Brian Bowman. "During a time of
rising fuel costs and anticipated rising tourism from the Winnipeg
Richardson International Airport, the City of Winnipeg is proud to add eco-friendly
buses to our current Winnipeg Transit fleet and provide better
transit options for Winnipeggers."
"Our government is positioning Canada as a global leader in the clean
technology sector by supporting innovative projects aimed at
producing and using energy in cleaner and more efficient ways. This
project exemplifies the work being done by our government to build
our economy while benefiting our environment," said Lawrence Toet, Member of Parliament for
Elmwood—Transcona.
Zero-emission battery-electric propulsion transit buses are
expected to significantly reduce green house gas and smog-causing
criteria air contaminant emissions. In Manitoba, where the
electrical grid is highly renewable (nearly 100 percent of
electricity is generated without burning fuel), the use of electric
propulsion buses are expected to translate to an estimated
reduction of 160 tonnes of green house gas emissions, per bus, per
year.
"Manitoba Hydro is proud to be a part of the Manitoba Electric
Transit Bus project and to have applied our expertise in the
distribution and use of energy to development of the rapid charging
station at Winnipeg Richardson International Airport," said
Scott Thomson, Manitoba Hydro
President and Chief Executive Officer. "As a full-service energy
utility, we welcome opportunities to support development of
environmentally-friendly technologies that promote safe, reliable
and efficient use of our renewable electricity resource; and to
work closely with customers and industry to ensure these
technologies can be incorporated into our distribution system."
"Red River College is proud to
support community economic development as a participant in this
project," said David Rew, Interim
President & CEO, Red River
College. "Our instructors, staff and students have all
contributed to the success of the consortium and we look forward to
the zero emissions bus going into commercial use at many transit
authorities across North
America."
"Winnipeg Transit is excited to be part of the testing and
development team for this innovative project," said Dave Wardrop, Director of Winnipeg
Transit. "We believe that the Xcelsior electric buses hold
tremendous promise for Transit's future with the potential for
lower operating costs and reduced emissions. We are extremely
pleased that our long standing partnerships, and new relationships,
continue to yield dividends for our customers and for our
community."
"Core to our operations is the principal of working with
community to lead transportation innovation and to do so in a
sustainable manner," said Barry
Rempel, President & CEO, Winnipeg Airports Authority.
"This project is proof of that concept and we are proud that
Canada's greenest terminal at
Winnipeg Richardson International Airport is the first in
North America to provide an
environmentally friendly transit bus rapid charge station."
All dollar amounts in this release are stated in Canadian
currency.
About New Flyer
New Flyer is the leading manufacturer
of heavy-duty transit buses in the United
States and Canada. The Company is the industry
technology leader and offers the broadest product line of transit
buses including drive systems powered by: clean diesel, natural
gas, diesel-electric hybrid, electric trolley and now,
battery-electric. All buses are supported by an
industry-leading comprehensive warranty and support program, and
service network. New Flyer also operates the industry's most
sophisticated aftermarket parts organization, sourcing parts from
hundreds of different suppliers and providing support for all types
of transit buses.
The New Flyer group of companies employ over 3,000 team members
with manufacturing, fabrication, parts distribution and service
centers in both Canada and the
United States. Over 32,000 New Flyer and NABI heavy-duty
transit buses are in operation today. Further information is
available on New Flyer's web site at www.newflyer.com.
The common shares and convertible unsecured subordinated
debentures of the Company are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange
under the symbols NFI and NFI.DB.U, respectively.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may
contain forward-looking statements relating to expected future
events and financial and operating results of the Company 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,
there may be no demand for a battery-electric bus from customers,
customers may not exercise options to purchase additional buses,
the ability of customers to 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 Company 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.
SOURCE New Flyer Industries Inc.