Madison, Wisconsin is purchasing 46 electric buses from New Flyer, which will be used on its new East-West Bus Rapid Transit system (BRT). The buses, known as Xcelsior Charge NG, are articulated and measure 60 feet in length. The order is being funded by the US government as part of a broader rapid transit system initiative and is expected to be operational in 2024, as per the statement by New Flyer’s parent company, NFI Group.
“Metro Transit is excited to partner with New Flyer to help make our ambitious BRT plans a reality,” said Justin Stuehrenberg, General Manager of Metro Transit. “New Flyer’s track record of innovation, quality products, and on-time delivery give us complete confidence that they will be a trustworthy partner for the largest infrastructure project the City of Madison has ever undertaken.”
The Xcelsior Charge NG buses will feature high-power batteries with a capacity of 410 kWh and advanced protective battery packaging for easy installation and maintenance. The buses also include a lightweight electric traction drive system that can recover up to 90% of energy.
Chris Stoddart, President of North American Bus and Coach at New Flyer Industries (NFI) said the buses will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide faster, high-capacity transportation for the City of Madison. New Flyer recently received a large order from Winnipeg Transit in Canada to deliver up to 166 zero-emission buses, and Pittsburgh Regional Transit has also signed a framework agreement for 157 buses, some of which may be electric. NFI electric buses are currently in use or on order in more than 120 cities across six countries, and have completed over 85 million service miles.
