ST. CLOUD, Minn, Feb. 2, 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 King County
Metro ("Metro") has awarded New Flyer 20 additional sixty-foot
zero-emission, battery-electric Xcelsior CHARGE™ heavy-duty transit
buses (40 equivalent units or "EUs").
Metro is one of the ten largest transit agencies in the United States, providing over 122 million
annual passenger trips in King County,
Washington, and including the city of Seattle. Metro's long-term commitment, first
announced January 2020, is to achieve
a 100% zero-emissions fleet powered by renewable energy no later
than 2040.
The addition of 20 battery-electric buses marks another key
milestone in reaching Metro's goal to improve air quality, reduce
carbon, and provide equitable access to sustainable transportation.
This order follows the completion of an 18-month electric bus
evaluation of two 60-foot New Flyer Xcelsior CHARGE™ buses program
initiated in 2018. The buses were purchased as option orders
off of the Commonwealth of Virginia state contract.
"Metro has long been an early adopter of advanced innovation,
and the transition to zero-emission mobility is no exception. New
Flyer battery-electric buses offer significant noise reduction,
cost savings, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions – all while
consistently performing through rigorous operating environments to
keep the community moving," said Chris
Stoddart, President, New Flyer and MCI. "Having delivered
over 1,830 buses to King County
since 1979 – with over half comprised of zero-emission or hybrid
electric propulsions on common and proven Xcelsior bus platforms –
New Flyer technology has assisted Metro's transition to clean,
quiet, reliable and sustainable transit."
New Flyer continues to lead the evolution toward scalable
zero-emission mobility, offering battery-electric Xcelsior CHARGE™
and fuel cell-electric Xcelsior CHARGE H2™ buses, and supporting
zero-emission deployments through New Flyer Infrastructure
Solutions™, which provides safe and reliable infrastructure
services for smart, sustainable mobility projects. For information
on New Flyer's zero-emission buses, visit newflyer.com/CHARGE, and
for information on infrastructure services,
visit newflyer.com/infrastructuresolutions.
NFI subsidiary ARBOC Specialty Vehicles has also supported
Metro's commitment to fast, equitable, and reliable service, with
37 low-floor cut-away buses delivered since 2011 including the
Freedom, Independence, Liberty, and Mobility models.
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 NFI Group Inc.