New Flyer has been awarded a significant contract by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) for a combination of zero-emission and hybrid buses. The deal includes a firm order for 75 Xcelsior hybrid-electric 40-foot buses and 25 Xcelsior CHARGE NG 35-foot battery-electric buses, with options for up to 400 additional units.
The Washington Metro, which operates a fleet of 1,500 buses servicing the National Capital Region—encompassing the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia—will integrate these new vehicles into its growing fleet.
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The Xcelsior CHARGE NG electric buses feature up to 61 seats and have a range of up to 220 miles per charge, depending on battery specifications. Meanwhile, the 40-foot hybrid buses can accommodate up to 84 passengers.
Chris Stoddart, President of North American Bus and Coach at New Flyer’s parent company NFI, highlighted the longstanding partnership between New Flyer and Metro. “New Flyer and Metro have enjoyed working together for thirty years,” said Stoddart. “This contract embraces the latest bus technology and offers flexibility in pricing and delivery timelines, which will help mitigate potential supply chain disruptions.”
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The new deal marks a strong start to the year for New Flyer, which also secured major contracts for 30 electric buses in Long Beach and 265 electric buses with New York City’s MTA. The orders reflect growing momentum for the adoption of zero-emission buses across the U.S. as part of efforts to decarbonize public transportation.