North American bus manufacturer New Flyer has announced a substantial order from New York City, encompassing the delivery of up to 1,420 electric buses over the next five years. The order includes the production of both 12 and 18-meter buses for the city.
The New York City Transit Authority (NYCT) has committed to purchasing up to 2,090 buses from New Flyer within five years, with up to 1,420 of them being electric. Under the framework agreement, NYCT has already placed a firm order for 205 Xcelsior Charge NG electric buses.
The agreement for electric buses spans both 12 and 18-meter vehicles. NYCT has ordered 187 battery-electric Xcelsior Charge NG 40-foot solo buses, with an option for 943 more. Additionally, NYCT has placed a firm order for 18 Xcelsior Charge NG 60-foot articulated buses, with an option for 272 additional units.
NYCT, part of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), the largest transport authority in North America, with an annual ridership of around 425 million, aims to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 85% between 2015 and 2040. This purchase of electric buses is a significant step toward achieving this goal and is subsidized by the US Federal Transit Administration’s “Low or No Emission” funding program.
New Flyer has a long-standing partnership with NYCT, having supplied more than 4,500 buses to the authority since 1996. Chris Stoddart, President of North American Bus and Coach at NFI, stated, “The Xcelsior CHARGE NG integrates our latest battery-electric technology to deliver longer range and easier serviceability in addition to its environmental benefits.”
New Flyer’s Xcelsior Charge NG battery-electric buses offer a range of up to 258 miles for the 12-meter version and 152 miles for the 18-meter version in the maximum battery configuration with 520 kWh, equivalent to approximately 415 and 245 kilometers, respectively. The model, which also includes a 10.6-meter variant, was launched in 2021.
“Our continued innovation and advancement, especially in the field of battery-electric buses, enables New Flyer to play a leading and integral role in helping NYCT as they update their fleet,” added Stoddart. New Flyer, part of NFI Group, which includes brands like MCI, Alexander Dennis Limited, Plaxton, and Arboc, specializes in public service buses and claims to have delivered 1,900 zero-emission buses to date.
