ST. CLOUD, MN, Jan. 30, 2020 /CNW/ - (TSX: NFI) New Flyer of
America Inc. ("New Flyer"), a subsidiary of NFI Group Inc. ("NFI"),
one of the world's leading independent global bus manufacturers,
today announced that King County
Metro ("Metro") has agreed to purchase 40 sixty-foot zero-emission,
battery-electric Xcelsior CHARGE™ heavy-duty transit buses from New
Flyer, with plans to order an additional 80 battery-electric buses
in the coming year. Upon execution of the purchase agreement with
Metro, the order will be added to New Flyer's backlog.
![New Flyer of America Inc. (CNW Group/New Flyer of America Inc.) New Flyer of America Inc. (CNW Group/New Flyer of America Inc.)](https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1084509/New_Flyer_of_America_Inc__King_County_Metro_agrees_to_purchase_u.jpg)
Metro's agreement to purchase up to 120 new battery-electric
buses, starting with the initial order of zero-emission articulated
buses, was announced today by King County Executive Dow Constantine
alongside Metro General Manager Rob
Gannon, during a celebratory event and bus demonstration at
Metro's South Training Facility in Seattle, Washington. The announcement follows
Metro's 2018 electric bus evaluation program, which used New
Flyer's Xcelsior CHARGE™ buses, and is a major milestone in the
county's efforts to improve air quality, reduce carbon and create a
zero-emissions bus fleet by 2040 or earlier.
In 2017, Executive Constantine and Metro General Manager
Rob Gannon called on the industry to
invest more in battery-electric options, including the creation of
coaches that could travel farther and handle the varying terrain
requirements of the region. New Flyer stepped up to the challenge,
producing both a 40-foot and 60-foot battery-electric bus that met
Metro's specifications and timeline needs. The buses Metro will
purchase both have a battery size of 466 kWh.
"Metro is a proven climate leader in America, and today's
announcement brings us even closer to the reality of a 100%
zero-emission fleet," said Chris
Stoddart, President, New Flyer of America. "For over 40
years we've proudly supported Metro with over 1,800 buses in
pursuit of sustainable mobility, and together, this next step
drives a major milestone that not only reduces Metro's carbon
footprint in King County, but
improves air quality and helps to build a more livable community
for everyone."
Since 1979, New Flyer has delivered over 1,800 buses to Metro,
with over half comprised of zero-emission or hybrid electric
propulsions.
"Today, we're celebrating major progress toward our goal of
transforming Metro to a zero-emission bus fleet, which is better
not only for the environment but also for our customers," said King
County Executive Dow Constantine. "These new buses will be able to
serve routes all over King County,
and especially in the southern part of the county, an area
disproportionately affected by pollution. Working with New Flyer,
we've procured 40 new buses that can handle anything we throw at
them – quietly, efficiently, and fueled by clean power."
"This first fleet order of battery-electric buses helps combat
the climate crisis and enhances our ability to serve our
customers," said Rob Gannon, Metro
General Manager. "Hundreds of thousands of King County residents choose safe and
efficient transit each weekday – keeping their cars off the road
and emissions out of the air. This new battery-electric bus
partnership with New Flyer allows us to do even more to reduce our
county's carbon footprint. New Flyer has consistently delivered
what we asked for and in the timeline we've needed."
New Flyer is proud to lead the industry in mobility solutions
with the latest zero-emission buses, technology, and infrastructure
that together, help build sustainable public transit across
America. New Flyer has more than 50 years of experience in
manufacturing zero-emission buses (ZEBs), with more electric buses
on the road in America than any other manufacturer.
About NFI
With 9,000 team members operating from more than 50 facilities
across ten countries, NFI is a leading independent global bus
manufacturer providing a comprehensive suite of mass transportation
solutions under brands: New Flyer® (heavy-duty transit buses),
Alexander Dennis Limited (single and double-deck buses), Plaxton
(motor coaches), MCI® (motor coaches), ARBOC® (low-floor cutaway
and medium-duty buses), and NFI Parts™. NFI buses and motor coaches
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). In
total, NFI now supports over 105,000 buses and coaches currently in
service around the world. NFI common shares are traded on the
Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol NFI. News and information
are available at www.nfigroup.com,
www.newflyer.com, www.mcicoach.com, www.arbocsv.com,
www.alexander-dennis.com, and www.nfi.parts.
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. It also
offers infrastructure development through New Flyer Infrastructure
Solutions™, a service dedicated to providing safe, sustainable, and
reliable charging and mobility solutions. 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.