Two transit agencies are set to receive low- and zero-emission buses from New Flyer of America Inc. (New Flyer).
SunLine Transit Agency (SunLine) awarded a contract for five 40-foot fuel cell-electric Xcelsior CHARGE H2™ heavy-duty transit buses. The purchase follows SunLine’s previous 2020 order for five Xcelsior CHARGE H2™ buses and brings SunLine’s total zero-emission fleet to 26 fuel cell-electric vehicles.
This hydrogen bus order, and SunLine’s previous 2020 zero-emission order, are supported by Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funds and will propel fulfillment of the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) Innovative Clean Transit regulation, five years ahead of state mandates. CARB mandates agencies to transition to 100 percent zero-emission bus fleets by 2040.
“NFI has delivered 65 heavy-duty buses to SunLine since 2004, of which 22 were built on our proven Xcelsior platform,” said Chris Stoddart, president, North American Bus and Coach. “SunLine is a pioneer in fuel cell adoption, and this follow-on order is a testament to the proven performance and reliability of our Xcelsior CHARGE H2 bus, which delivers extended range of up to 350 miles. We look forward supporting SunLine as it furthers clean mobility in California.”
RTC awards new contract
The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC) awarded New Flyer a new contract for 30 Xcelsior® compressed natural gas (CNG) 60-foot, heavy-duty transit buses with options to purchase up to 100 additional buses (200 EUs). RTC has since exercised 32 options (64 EUs). The new five-year contract is supported by FTA funds.
“This new order with future potential option orders for up to 100 additional high-capacity CNG buses demonstrates RTC’s commitment to more sustainable and efficient transportation, and provides a transition point toward zero-emission mobility,” said Paul Soubry, president and CEO, NFI. “With over 13,000 CNG buses on the roads across North America, NFI is a CNG technology leader in mass mobility.”
The new CNG buses will replace end-of-life diesel vehicles with cleaner, more efficient, low-emission mobility options, and deliver on RTC’s Access 2040 Regional Transportation Plan, focused on improving air quality and enhancing multimodal connectivity.
“For nearly 25 years, New Flyer has supported RTC with over 760 buses, more than half of which are CNG propulsion,” said Chris Stoddart, president, North American Bus and Coach. “These new buses emit 90 percent less nitrogen oxide compared to traditional propulsion, and immediately reduce greenhouse gas emissions while contributing to more breathable air in the Las Vegas Valley.”
