CANADA
New Flyer, a subsidiary of Alexander Dennis parent company NFI Group, has announced a contract with operator BC Transit for 33 next-generation Xcelsior Charge NG 40-foot battery-electric buses. BC Transit oversees municipal transit services for over 130 communities across the province of British Columbia and has an annual ridership of more than 47 million. In 2019 it announced its Low Carbon Fleet Program, which outlined a plan to expand its fleet and replace ageing vehicles, with a focus on reducing greenhouse gases. It aims to transition to an entirely electric fleet by 2040.
“We are pleased to partner with New Flyer to electrify our fleet, which is a significant part of our plan to reduce GHG emissions,” said President and Chief Executive Officer for BC Transit Erinn Pinkerton. “With other active procurements underway and work advancing on charging infrastructure designs in communities, it’s an exciting time for BC Transit, New Flyer and our partners.”
NFI and BC Transit’s partnership spans more than 45 years, during which the agency has operated a wide variety of vehicles from different companies under the NFI umbrella. Currently, more than 600 of the vehicles operating as part of BC Transit’s fleet of over 1,100 buses are from NFI subsidiaries, including New Flyer, ARBOC and Alexander Dennis, which is supplying 29 more new Enviro500 double-deckers.
“New Flyer and BC Transit have a longstanding relationship and a shared dedication to taking bold steps in moving towards a zero-emission future, and this Xcelsior Charge NG purchase builds on both,” added Chris Stoddart, President for North American Bus and Coach at NFI. “The next-generation battery-electric buses included in this purchase incorporate our latest technology advancements, but they also share a high level of commonality with the Xcelsior buses already operated by BC Transit which will streamline training and maintenance requirements as the agency transitions to a greener fleet.”
