WINNIPEG, Aug. 17, 2016 /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 largest heavy-duty transit
bus and motor coach manufacturer and parts distributor in
North America, announced a major
addition to its industry leading clean air propulsion options for
the New Flyer Xcelsior® bus family.
New Flyer is the first transit manufacturer to offer the
industry's cleanest certified engine and will deliver the first
original equipment manufacturer ("OEM") installation of a 2016
Cummins Westport ISL G Near Zero ("ISL G NZ") engine in the third
quarter of 2016.
The ISL G NZ compressed natural gas ("CNG") engine will be used
to power a New Flyer Xcelsior XN40 bus for the Los Angeles County
Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro). LA Metro
operates the largest natural gas engine transit vehicle fleet in
North America.
The ISL G NZ NOx natural gas engine has been developed by
Cummins Westport Inc. and is the first mid-range engine in
North America to receive
certification to meet the 0.02 g/bhp-hr. optional Near Zero NOx
Emissions standards from both U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) and the Air Resources Board (ARB) in California.
Cummins Westport states that this certification represents a
10-fold emissions reduction below current EPA nitrogen oxide (NOx)
emissions standards, making it the cleanest engine in the
industry. Cummins Westport also describes the engine as
operating 90% below the particulate matter (PM) standard, and 16%
below the C02 emissions standard. In addition to the dramatic
reduction in NOx, the ISL G NZ features Closed Crankcase
Ventilation, stated to reduce engine related methane emissions by
70%, thereby enhancing its greenhouse gas benefits.
Wayne Joseph, New Flyer Executive
Vice President, Bus, noted the significance of this Near-Zero
natural gas engine achievement. "We are proud to be the first
OEM to factory install and deliver this industry-leading clean
engine to a transit customer. New Flyer has delivered over
6,000 natural gas transit buses that operate to ranges of over 350
miles without refueling. The advancements of Cummins Westport
in compressed natural gas internal combustion and after-treatment
technology has helped our customers meet stringent clean air
requirements, powered by low cost natural gas."
According to Paul Smith, New
Flyer's Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing, "We continue
to see growing demand for natural gas powered buses. New CNG
infrastructure is being deployed by our customers as natural gas
becomes more abundant, with the United
States now being the number-one natural gas producer in the
world". Paul Smith also noted
the growing customer interest in renewable natural gas ("RNG"),
also known as biomethane. RNG is chemically identical to
fossil natural gas, and yields far fewer greenhouse emissions
during the production process.
Chris Stoddart, New Flyer's Vice
President, Engineering and Customer Services added, "RNG is a
pipeline-quality gas that's fully interchangeable with conventional
natural gas, yet can be produced by reusing waste products.
It can be produced from landfills, livestock operations and
wastewater treatment. Combining this renewable energy source
with the Cummins Westport ISL G NZ engine provides a powerful tool
to significantly improve urban air quality, while, at the same
time, also reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Transit
agencies now have more clean air, low greenhouse gas options than
ever from New Flyer and can select from an array of propulsion
systems that collectively meets their operational needs, all of
which are available on the lightweight, industry proven, and
reliable Xcelsior platform."
In addition to CNG propulsion, New Flyer has the most
comprehensive experience with electric propulsion in the industry,
with over 6,000 buses delivered using electric propulsion, ranging
from electric-trolley, electric-hybrid, battery-electric and fuel
cell-electric systems.
About The Company
The Company is the largest transit bus and motor coach
manufacturer and parts distributor in North America with fabrication, manufacturing,
distribution and service centers in Canada and the
United States and employs approximately 5,000 team
members.
Through its Canadian and U.S. subsidiaries, New Flyer Industries
Canada ULC and New Flyer of America Inc., the Company is
North America's heavy-duty transit
bus leader and offers the broadest transit bus product line
(Xcelsior® and MiDi® models), incorporating
the broadest range of drive systems available, including: clean
diesel, natural gas, diesel-electric hybrid, electric-trolley and
now battery-electric. New Flyer actively supports over 42,000
heavy-duty transit buses (New Flyer, NABI and Orion) currently in
service.
Through its Canadian and U.S. subsidiaries, Motor Coach
Industries Limited and Motor Coach Industries, Inc., the Company is
North America's leader in motor
coaches, offering the MCI J4500,which is the industry's
best-selling intercity coach for 11 consecutive years, and the MCI
D-Series, the industry`s best-selling coach line in North American
motor coach history. MCI is also the exclusive distributor of Setra
S417 and S407 in the United States
and Canada. MCI actively supports
over 28,000 motor coaches currently in service and offers 24-hour
roadside assistance 365 days a year.
The Company also operates North
America's most comprehensive aftermarket parts organization
providing support for all types of transit buses and motor coaches.
All buses and coaches are supported by an industry-leading
comprehensive warranty, service and support network.
Further information is available on the Company's websites at
www.newflyer.com and www.mcicoach.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 is not yet any operating experience with the ISL
G NZ in a production version of the Xcelsior bus, there may be no
customer demand for this type of engine, the expected benefits for
customers operating a bus with this type of engine may not be
realized 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.