(TSX: NFI, OTC: NFYEF, TSX: NFI.DB) NFI Group Inc.
(“NFI”), a leading independent bus and coach manufacturer and a
leader in electric mass mobility solutions, today announced that
its subsidiary New Flyer of America Inc. and New Flyer Industries
Canada ULC (together “New Flyer”) unveiled its next generation,
zero-emission hydrogen fuel cell-electric Xcelsior CHARGE FC™
heavy-duty transit bus.
The Xcelsior CHARGE FC™ uses environmentally
friendly hydrogen and fuel-cell technology to create electricity
and to charge batteries for zero-emission extended-range, saving
85-175 tons of greenhouse gas per year from tailpipe emissions
compared to a traditional diesel bus. With a range of over 370
miles1, the bus can be refueled in 6-20 minutes depending on the
model and operating conditions and requires no overnight plug-in
electrical re-charging. The only tailpipe output is clean water
vapor.
Built on the proven Xcelsior® platform with over
16,000 buses delivered to date, New Flyer's battery-electric and
fuel cell-electric models have surpassed over 15 million electric
vehicle (“EV”) service miles. Drawing upon more than 20 years of
experience producing fuel cell-electric buses for North American
operators, New Flyer has applied the best of zero-emission design
and innovative fuel cell technologies to develop its most advanced
hydrogen fuel cell-electric bus yet.
New Flyer’s Xcelsior CHARGE FC™ incorporates
four distinct technology advancements to deliver a robust,
long-range, high-performance hydrogen fuel cell-electric bus,
including a lighter, simpler, and more efficient heavy-duty fuel
cell power module that is easier to service; recyclable, high-power
batteries delivering a longer range of over 370 of miles of highway
driving without refueling; a redesigned waterproof (IP 67 and IP 69
rated) battery enclosure providing improved serviceability; and a
high-grade, electric drive traction system with up to 90% energy
recovery.
“The Xcelsior CHARGE FC includes the latest
technology innovations. The new streamlined design is easier to
service and maintain, delivers longer range at highway speeds,
improves energy recovery, and is smart city-capable, making it the
most advanced hydrogen fuel cell-electric bus available on the
market,” said Chris Stoddart, President, North American Bus and
Coach, NFI. “With the Xcelsior CHARGE FC now added to NFI's
market-leading EV and AV vehicle lineup, NFI is undeniably leading
a new mobility era, delivering unmatched performance and
sustainability benefits to transit operators.”
The new FCmove™-HD+ fuel cell power module from
Ballard Power Systems introduces a more compact and robust design
with lifecycle cost reductions achieved through lower maintenance
requirements, higher reliability, and fewer parts. The integrated
design houses all subcomponents in a single enclosure; it is
smaller, lighter, and uses 50% fewer parts, making it easier to
service and maintain. It offers over 97% fuel cell power
availability while in service, and a wider operating range across a
variety of climates.
New Flyer manufactures its energy storage system
enclosures in its bus production facilities. The battery packaging,
developed by New Flyer, utilizes a waterproof enclosure design that
is lighter and easier to maintain, decreasing the number of parts
by 90%. Its streamlined design enables technicians to simply “plug
in” or “unplug” individual battery packs, significantly reducing
bus downtime and allowing easy replacement.
High-power, rapid-charge batteries utilize an
active liquid cooling system to maintain consistent temperatures
and respond quickly to increases in power demand and environmental
loads. The batteries are more efficient in demanding applications,
offer 40% more energy, and deliver 44% more range at highway speeds
without compromising quality. The batteries are also appropriate
for Li-Cycle’s closed-loop lithium-ion battery recycling program
that facilitates full-circle sustainable mobility and material
recapture through recovery of critical materials from lithium-ion
batteries and reintroducing them into the supply chain.
Finally, the Siemens ELFA™ 3 traction system
delivers up to 90% energy recovery through regenerative braking and
weighs 69% less than ELFA™ 2, delivering a more efficient design
through compact inverters and embedded drive controllers.
“More and more cities are making the commitment
to 100% zero-emission fleets and Xcelsior CHARGE FC provides an
ideal complement to battery-electric buses for agencies wanting to
integrate the reliable long-range performance of hydrogen fuel
cell-electric buses,” said Jennifer McNeill, Vice President of
Public Sector Sales and Marketing, New Flyer and MCI. “The Xcelsior
CHARGE FC also advances our effort to continue driving the adoption
of zero-emission mobility with a safe, scalable, and streamlined
approach to the zero-emission manufacturing process. In turn, we
simplify training for our production teams and those of transit
agencies across North America to continue supporting reskilling,
upskilling, and workforce development to ensure successful
zero-emission deployments.”
The Xcelsior CHARGE FC™ is available in 40-foot
and 60-foot lengths, and both models meet the Federal Transit
Administration Model Bus Testing Program at Altoona, Pennsylvania.
New Flyer remains the only North American manufacturer to offer
both 40-foot and 60-foot fuel cell-electric models that qualify for
federal funding.
To provide workforce development on Xcelsior
CHARGE FC™ technologies, New Flyer will host a no-cost virtual
training session on November 10, 2022, through the Vehicle
Innovation Center (“VIC”). To register for the VIC session or to
learn more about the Xcelsior CHARGE FC™ fuel cell-electric bus,
visit newflyer.com/FC.
NFI is a leader in zero-emission mobility, with
electric vehicles operating (or on order) in more than 110 cities
in six countries. NFI offers the widest range of zero-emission
battery and fuel cell-electric buses and coaches, and its vehicles
have completed over 70 million EV service miles.
Today, NFI supports growing North American
cities with scalable, clean, and sustainable mobility solutions
through a four-pillar approach that includes buses and coaches,
technology, infrastructure, and workforce development. NFI
also operates the VIC, the first and only innovation lab of its
kind dedicated to advancing bus and coach technology and providing
workforce development. Since opening in late 2017, the VIC has
hosted over 300 interactive events, welcoming 5,000 industry
professionals for EV and infrastructure training.
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 7,500 team members in nine 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’s common shares trade on the Toronto Stock
Exchange (“TSX”) under the symbol NFI and its convertible unsecured
debentures trade on the TSX under the symbol NFI.DB. News and
information is available at www.nfigroup.com, www.newflyer.com,
www.mcicoach.com, www.nfi.parts, www.alexander-dennis.com,
www.arbocsv.com, and www.carfaircomposites.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. It also offers
infrastructure development through NFI 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 Statement
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; production may be delayed or
production rates may be decreased as a result of the pandemic or
ongoing and future supply chain disruptions and shortages of parts
and components, shipping and freight delays, and disruption to
labor supply; 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.
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4b9933b8-5197-4dae-91f9-5f97db92a8ac
A video accompanying this announcement is available
at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c830196b-ee10-4cc2-938e-3c2067151982
For media inquiries, please contact:Melanie
McCreathMelanie.McCreath@nfigroup.com
For investor inquiries, please contact:Stephen
KingP: 204.224.6382Stephen.King@nfigroup.com
1 Estimated based on real-world duty cycle.
NFI (TSX:NFI)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jun 2024 to Jul 2024
NFI (TSX:NFI)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jul 2023 to Jul 2024