Miami-Dade Transit, operated by Miami-Dade County Transportation and Public Works, has contracted with New Flyer of America Inc. (New Flyer) for a firm order for 100 zero-emission, battery-electric Xcelsior CHARGE NG™ 60-foot, heavy-duty transit buses. The new order also includes two on-route Heliox 450 kW chargers and 50 Heliox Flex 180 kW depot power cabinets by NFI Group Inc. (NFI) Infrastructure Solutions™ to support zero-emission bus (ZEB) deployment in Miami County. These buses were added to NFI’s backlog in the first quarter of 2023.
The high-capacity, zero-emission articulated buses will be equipped with long-range 763 kWh batteries, providing an additional range to deliver increased efficiency and reliability to the Miami-Dade Transit fleet.
Sixty buses will operate on the 20-mile South Dade TransitWay BRT corridor, which connects numerous municipalities from Dadeland South Metrorail Station to Florida City. To serve the transitway, the Xcelsior CHARGE NG buses will be designed with four doors to ensure easy access for passengers on station platforms to allow level boarding from both sides of the bus. The remaining 40 buses will serve passengers on other bus routes across Miami-Dade County.
Through this ZEB order, Miami-Dade Transit will fulfil its Resilient305 Strategy, a pathway to reduce emissions, shorten travel times and minimize traffic congestion, developed under a unique partnership of Miami-Dade County, the city of Miami, and the city of Miami Beach. In addition, the purchase of ZEBs will deliver on the Miami-Dade County Climate Action Strategy, aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent by 2030 and to become a net-zero carbon community by 2050.
“Since 1995, we have delivered over 1,460 buses to MDT, and now we continue this partnership by enabling the agency’s transition to zero-emission mobility and supporting its vision of creating a more resilient future through our long-range electric vehicles and infrastructure,” said Chris Stoddart, president, NFI. “Xcelsior CHARGE NG is the most advanced electric vehicle on the market, thanks to its streamlined design reducing maintenance, high-performance capabilities and significant clean air benefits.”
