Nova Bus received its largest electric bus contract to date, with an order for 20 LFSe+ in addition to 20 options, for a total of 40 electric buses, by the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (Houston Metro), as part of a sustainability initiative.
The Houston Metro Board authorized the immediate purchase of 20 of those electric buses and this order will be the first electric bus purchase on a total fleet of 1,300.
The buses are expected to be in operation by the fourth quarter of 2022, and they will initially have routes that serve communities more affected by carbon emissions and ones that have been chosen by Houston Complete Communities.
With an electric drive motor coupled with BAE Systems' next-generation power electronics focused on efficiency, these electric buses provide reduced maintenance costs and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Nova Bus continues to invest in new technologies to provide the value and flexibility its customers and transit operators demand. The LFSe+ is the perfect pairing of Nova Bus' proven expertise with the latest innovations in clean and sustainable technologies.
"Extraordinary news for Nova Bus to start the new year. We are thrilled to be working with METRO in their mission to have 100 percent zero-emission only bus procurement by 2030 in Houston. This LFSe+ contract is our most important so far in the U.S., and we are proud to continue our significant contribution in electrification of transportation in North America by introducing these zero-emission buses in Houston," said Martin Larose, president, Nova Bus.