ST. CLOUD, Minn., Oct. 13, 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 Knoxville Area Transit ("KAT")
has awarded New Flyer a contract for twelve zero-emission,
battery-electric thirty five-foot heavy-duty transit buses, with
options to purchase up to 13 additional zero-emission buses in
thirty-five or forty-foot lengths throughout the remaining term of
the five-year agreement.
"This contract includes charging infrastructure encompassing six
depot chargers, one portable trailer-mounted charger, and
design-build support from New Flyer Infrastructure Solutions,
including installation services, software and software services,
training, warranties, and commissioning," said Chris Stoddart, New Flyer President. "Working
with KAT on a comprehensive mobility solution including both buses
and infrastructure will ensure an optimized approach to the design
and deployment of zero-emission mobility."
KAT provides public transportation in Knoxville, Tennessee, delivering around 3
million passenger trips per year. Knoxville is the third largest city in
Tennessee and is among the ten
fastest growing cities in America. "KAT has been actively pursuing
the transition to low and no-emissions in the KAT fleet over recent
years," said Isaac Thorne, Director
of Transit for the City of
Knoxville. "Together with New Flyer, we are making
zero-emission mobility a reality for the City of Knoxville. KAT and the City of Knoxville aim to lead sustainability
in Tennessee, and together with
New Flyer, we are building a more sustainable, livable, and
connected community."
KAT celebrated the purchase of its first New Flyer
battery-electric transit bus in December
2019 in a ribbon cutting ceremony featuring the Mayor and
councilmembers. With over 44% of the community's emissions coming
from transportation, KAT and the City of
Knoxville have been transitioning to sustainable mobility
over recent years, with over 30% of its current fleet as hybrid
electric vehicles. The new zero-emission buses will support
existing KAT service and operate along Knoxville's most diverse routes, serving
students, seniors, and the wider community and providing
fully-accessible transit to essential stops and services in the
city.
New Flyer Infrastructure Solutions™ is dedicated to providing
safe, reliable services for smart, sustainable mobility projects.
Its full-suite services include support, planning, optimization,
and transition to help ensure successful transition to
battery-electric mobility, while working closely with leading firms
including Siemens, ABB, ChargePoint, Burns & McDonnell and
Black & Veatch. For more information, visit
newflyer.com/infrastructuresolutions.
New Flyer has been manufacturing zero-emission buses for more
than 50 years, with more electric buses on the road in America than
any other bus manufacturer. With nearly 90 years of experience in
manufacturing, New Flyer today supports growing North American
cities with sustainable buses, technology, and infrastructure. It
also operates the Vehicle Innovation Center, the first and only
innovation lab of its kind dedicated to advancing bus technology
and providing essential workforce development through electric bus
training. New Flyer was the first bus manufacturer in the world to
sign on to the Shared Mobility Principles for Livable Cities, and
is currently developing automated bus technology to improve safety
in public transit.
About NFI
With 9,000 team members in ten countries, NFI is a leading
global bus manufacturer of mass mobility solutions under the brands
New Flyer® (heavy-duty transit buses), MCI®
(motor coaches), Alexander Dennis Limited (single and double-deck
buses), Plaxton (motor coaches), ARBOC® (low-floor
cutaway and medium-duty buses), and NFI Parts™. NFI currently
offers the widest range of sustainable drive systems available,
including zero-emission electric (trolley, battery, and fuel cell),
natural gas, electric hybrid, and clean diesel. In total, NFI
supports its installed base of over 105,000 buses and coaches
around the world. NFI common shares are traded on the Toronto Stock
Exchange under the symbol NFI. News and information is 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 35,000 heavy-duty transit buses (New
Flyer, NABI, and Orion) currently in service, of which 8,600 are
powered by electric motors and battery propulsion and 1,900 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.