ST. CLOUD, Minn., Jan. 26, 2021 /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 the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
("MBTA") has exercised an option with New Flyer to purchase 45
additional Xcelsior® sixty-foot hybrid electric
buses (90 equivalent units or "EUs").
MBTA is one of the largest transit systems in the U.S.,
providing public transportation services in Greater Boston and carrying approximately 32
million passengers per year.
This order follows recent MBTA awards to New Flyer for low and
zero-emission buses, including a 2020 contract for 60 Xcelsior
forty-foot hybrid electric buses, a 2019 contract for 194 Xcelsior
forty-foot hybrid electric buses, and a 2019 contract for five
sixty-foot battery-electric Xcelsior CHARGE™ zero-emission buses.
The purchases are supported by a combination of state and federal
funding from the Federal Transit Administration ("FTA") grants,
executing on MBTA's planned fleet replacement, expansion and
greenhouse gas ("GHG") reductions.
"Our partnership with MBTA spans 45 years, having delivered more
than 1,500 buses, of which over 500 incorporate hybrid technology,"
said Chris Stoddart, President, New
Flyer of America. "As we continually innovate our products to
become more sustainable, we continue to see early adopters like
MBTA to introduce the latest technology. Advanced hybrid-electric
buses like this will result in immediate GHG reduction and are a
critical transition step in the evolution to zero-emission
mobility."
New Flyer partnered with BAE Systems, a global leader in
electric propulsion, to equip the buses with a Series-ER hybrid
system configured with the lightest and most compact
next-generation components that enhance system efficiency and
reduce fuel emissions. In addition to the Series-ER hybrid
system, the low-emission hybrid buses feature onboard energy
storage and smart controls supplied by BAE Systems that will extend
electric drive range and help modernize MBTA's fleet. The Series-ER
system is powered by lithium-ion technology that allows buses to
drive on strictly electric power up to 50 percent of the time.
New Flyer has been leading innovation in mobility for 90 years,
and 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 and motor coach technology and providing
essential workforce development through electric bus training, now
available online. New Flyer is testing automated vehicle technology
and remains committed to the development of technology standards
that deliver safe, clean, sustainable, connected mobility options
to communities.
About NFI
Leveraging 450 years of combined experience, NFI is leading the
electrification of mass mobility around the world. With
zero-emission buses and coaches, infrastructure, and technology,
NFI meets today's urban demands for scalable smart mobility
solutions. Together, NFI is enabling more livable cities through
connected, clean, and sustainable transportation.
With 8,000 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.