NFI subsidiary New Flyer announces contract with BC Transit for 33 battery-electric buses

WINNIPEG, Manitoba, May 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- (TSX: NFI, OTC: NFYEF, TSX: NFI.DB) New Flyer Industries Canada ULC (New Flyer), a subsidiary of NFI Group Inc. (NFI) and leading manufacturer of heavy-duty transit buses, today announced a contract with BC Transit Corporation (BC Transit) for 33 next-generation Xcelsior CHARGE NG 40-foot battery-electric buses (BEBs). The contract was added to New Flyer’s firm backlog in 2024 Q2.

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 passenger trips. In 2019, BC Transit announced its Low Carbon Fleet Program, which outlined the agency’s plan to expand its fleet and replace aging fleet vehicles with a focus on reducing greenhouse gases. BC Transit’s current goal is 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 Erinn Pinkerton, President and Chief Executive Officer for BC Transit. “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, Alexander Dennis, and ARBOC.

“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,” said Chris Stoddart, President, North American Bus and Coach, 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.”