ST. CLOUD, MINNESOTA,
Feb. 13, 2017 /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
transit bus and motor coach manufacturer and parts distributor in
North America, announced today
that it will supply 20 fuel cell electric 40-foot
Xcelsior® XHE40 transit buses to transit agencies in
California.
New Flyer is a partner of the Fuel Cell Electric Bus
Commercialization Consortium to deploy 20 fuel cell electric buses
- 10 with Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit) and 10
with the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA).
The project is funded by the California Air Resources Board's
Low Carbon Transportation and Air Quality Improvement
Program. Program support also includes sponsorship from the
Bay Area Air Quality Management District and South Coast Air
Quality Management District. The Center for Transportation and
Environment (CTE), a nonprofit member-based organization, is
providing project management and oversight.
New Flyer, the market leader in zero-emission buses, is the only
North American transit bus manufacturer offering all three types of
zero-emission propulsion systems including: hydrogen fuel cell
electric, battery-electric and trolley-electric buses. "We
acknowledged early on in the development of zero emission buses
that every operator and every mission profile is different which
requires flexibility in propulsion and energy generation
approaches" explained Wayne Joseph,
President of New Flyer Transit Bus. "Our response was to
evolve our electrification roadmap providing choice to customers,
but doing so on a proven heavy-duty transit bus platform - the New
Flyer Xcelsior".
Hydrogen has the potential to solve two major energy challenges
in transportation: reducing dependence on petroleum and reducing
pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. The New Flyer
Xcelsior® electric buses for this program will utilize
fuel cells from Ballard Power Systems. The fuel cell replaces
an internal combustion engine by generating electricity to power an
electric drive motors. Fuel cell electric buses have
operating ranges over 300 miles with zero tailpipe emissions and
re-filling hydrogen can be accomplished in only a few minutes,
without the need for overnight plug-in battery recharging.
Paul Smith, Executive Vice
President of Sales, Marketing and Customer Programs of New Flyer
noted, "The potential for hydrogen derived from renewable sources,
like solar and wind, as an alternative fuel and zero-emission
solution for public transit remains strong. This important
program provides New Flyer and our electric propulsion suppliers
the production volume to gain efficiencies and drive costs
down."
After delivery of the fleet in 2018, New Flyer's California-based Ontario, California Service Center and Fresno
Parts Center teams will support the operation of the fuel cell
electric buses into every day transit service.
Mr. Smith concluded: "New Flyer is very proud to partner with AC
Transit and OCTA – both are leading transit agencies in Northern
and Southern California
respectively. It's an honor to have our zero-emission
technology and innovation is helping California lead the nation in tackling climate
change."
This Fuel Cell Electric Bus Commercialization Consortium project
is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide program that
puts billions of cap-and-trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse
gas emissions, strengthening the economy and improving public
health and the environment — particularly in disadvantaged
communities. The cap-and-trade program also creates a financial
incentive for industries to invest in clean technologies and
develop innovative ways to reduce pollution. California Climate
Investments projects include affordable housing, renewable energy,
public transportation, zero-emission vehicles, environmental
restoration, more sustainable agriculture, recycling and much more.
At least 35 percent of these investments are made in disadvantaged
and low-income communities. For more information, visit
https://arb.ca.gov/caclimateinvestments.
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 may be no sustained customer demand for this
type of fuel cell electric buses, the expected benefits for
customers operating this type of fuel cell electric bus may not be
realized, 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 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.
![Fuel Cell Electric Bus Commercialization Consortium (CNW Group/New Flyer Industries Inc.)](https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/467713/New_Flyer_Industries_Inc__California_Climate_Investments_Provide.jpg)
SOURCE New Flyer Industries Inc.