ST. CLOUD, MN, Aug. 13, 2015 /CNW/ - (TSX: NFI) (TSX: NFI.DB.U)
New Flyer of America Inc., a subsidiary of New Flyer Industries
Inc. ("New Flyer" or the "Company"), the leading manufacturer of
heavy-duty transit buses in the United
States and Canada,
announced that the California Energy Commission ("CEC") approved a
$2.1 million grant to conduct an
advanced demonstration project involving a New Flyer
Xcelsior® electric transit bus with a Hydrogenics
CelerityPlus fuel cell. A notice of the proposed award was
initially announced in April
2015.
The purpose of the CEC-approved Alternative and Renewable Fuel
and Vehicle Technology Program (ARFVTP) is to encourage
demonstration of advanced technologies and help develop commercial
vehicles that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, displace petroleum
fuel demand, stimulate economic development and enhance market
acceptance that will lead to commercial production.
Similar to the commercially available zero-emission New Flyer
Xcelsior battery-electric buses, the hydrogen fuel cell
demonstration bus will use a Siemens ELFA® electric
drive motor for propulsion. However, instead of storing
electricity delivered from the power grid in battery packs on the
bus, fuel cells use hydrogen gas and air to produce electricity
directly on-board the bus. With water vapor as the only
by-product and with no tail pipe emissions, a New Flyer Xcelsior
fuel cell bus can reduce an estimated 115 metric tonnes of carbon
dioxide per year.
With the fuel cell on board, the bus has the ability to yield
operating ranges longer than pure battery-electric buses, plus
hydrogen fuel tanks on the bus can be refilled in less time than
recharging batteries from plug-in electric chargers.
"New Flyer has over 40 years of extensive experience with
electric vehicle technology, starting with electric trolleys.
We designed the Xcelsior with public transit agencies in mind,
using components and systems that are Buy America compliant and
manufactured and supported by leading supply chain
partners," said Chris Stoddart,
Vice President of Engineering Services and Customer Services.
"Integrating advanced fuel cell technology from Hydrogenics
is a natural extension of our zero-emission product evolution. We
are very proud to be a selected as a partner with the California
Energy Commission."
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 3,300 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 website at
http://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, there is not yet a
prototype version of this type of battery-electric hydrogen fuel
cell bus, there may be no sustained customer demand for this type
of bus , the expected benefits for customers operating this type of
bus may not be realized, the economic conditions of and funding
availability for customers to purchase buses and to purchase parts
or services 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.