ST. CLOUD, MN, Jan. 7, 2019 /CNW/ - (TSX: NFI) New Flyer of
America Inc. ("New Flyer"), the U.S. subsidiary of NFI Group Inc.
("NFI"), the largest transit bus and motor coach manufacturer in
North America, today announced
that the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority ("MBTA") has
awarded New Flyer a new contract for five sixty-foot New Flyer
Xcelsior CHARGE™ heavy-duty, battery-electric zero-emission buses
(10 equivalent units).
The award furthers MBTA efforts to reduce greenhouse-gas
emissions while establishing safe and reliable transportation for
the greater Boston area. The
Xcelsior CHARGE™ buses will be used to demonstrate battery-electric
vehicle technology on Silver Line routes. The project, which
includes charging infrastructure, is supported by a grant through
the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) Low and No Emission
Vehicle Deployment Program (LoNo) and is a result of a partnership
between New Flyer, MBTA, and the Center for Transportation and the
Environment (CTE).
As previously announced, New Flyer's sixty-foot battery-electric
transit bus is the first and only sixty-foot battery electric bus
to complete the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) Model Bus
Testing Program, qualifying it for FTA funding.
"Our Xcelsior CHARGE™ zero-emission buses offer a total capacity
of 120-passengers, leading traction and gradeability, improved step
height, an expanded door width, and the industry's best entry ramp
for passengers with mobility devices, making it an unmatched
accessibility experience in public transit," said Chris Stoddart, President, New Flyer of America.
"Our zero-emission buses will help MBTA to not only reduce
emissions in the Greater Boston
area, but also deliver industry-leading passenger capacity to move
the community with clean, efficient transportation."
MBTA is the public agency responsible for operating
most public transportation services in Greater
Boston, Massachusetts. Since 2002, New Flyer has delivered
over 750 buses to MBTA, including diesel-electric hybrids and
low-emission compressed natural gas (CNG) buses. Today's
battery-electric vehicle award follows MBTA's recent execution of
194 options for New Flyer heavy-duty, forty-foot
Xcelsior® diesel-electric transit buses.
New Flyer has over 50 years of experience in manufacturing
zero-emission buses (ZEBs), with more electric buses on the road in
America than any other manufacturer. It is also the only North
American manufacturer offering all three types of zero-emission
transit bus (battery-electric, fuel cell-electric, and
trolley-electric).
In 2018, New Flyer became the first bus manufacturer in the
world to sign on to the Shared Mobility Principles for Livable
Cities, joined CharIN to support industry charging standards for
all electric vehicles, became the first licensee outside the Volvo
Group to join OppCharge in North
America, signed CALSTART's Global Commercial Drive to Zero
to support fast-tracking adoption of clean trucks and buses, and
also signed the Transportation Electrification Accord focused on
driving an equitable and prosperous future for electrified
transportation.
About NFI Group
With over 6,000 team members, operating from 31 facilities
across Canada and the United States, NFI is North America's largest bus manufacturer
providing a comprehensive suite of mass transportation solutions
under brands: New Flyer® (heavy-duty transit buses),
ARBOC® (low-floor cutaway and medium-duty buses),
MCI® (motor coaches), and NFI Parts™ (parts, support,
and service). NFI buses incorporate the widest range of drive
systems available including: clean diesel, natural gas,
diesel-electric hybrid, and zero-emission electric (trolley,
battery, and fuel cell) on proven bus platforms. In total, NFI
supports over 74,000 buses and coaches currently in service across
North America. For the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2017, NFI posted
revenues of US $2.4 billion. NFI
common shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the
symbol NFI. News and information are available at
www.nfigroup.com.
About New Flyer
New Flyer is North America's
heavy-duty transit bus leader and offers the most advanced product
line under the Xcelsior® and Xcelsior CHARGE™ brands.
New Flyer actively supports over 41,000 heavy-duty transit buses
(New Flyer, NABI, and Orion) currently in service, of which 7,300
are powered by electric motors and battery propulsion and 1,600 are
zero-emission. Further information is available at
www.newflyer.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.
SOURCE New Flyer of America Inc.