New Flyer Industries Inc. announced Wednesday that the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System has awarded New Flyer a contract for up to 165 Xcelsior compressed natural gas ("CNG") articulated 60-foot heavy-duty buses.
The contract for 165 Xcelsior CNG buses (330 equivalent units or "EUs") contains a firm order of 47 60-foot articulated buses (94 EUs) with options for up to an additional 118 60-foot buses (236 EUs).
New Flyer has more CNG expertise than any other bus manufacturer in North America, experience that has been gained over the last 20 years from the production of over 4,700 CNG powered buses. This bus order and future Xcelsior CNG procurements will build on San Diego's already significant fleet of environmentally friendly buses, consisting of approximately 80 percent CNG buses. The CNG system is designed specifically for New Flyer buses and to meet and exceed today's CNG standards and safety requirements. Additionally, designed for a 350 to 400 mile range, the New Flyer CNG design offers 20-year certified tanks and a fire suppression system that comes as standard features, and not as optional 'extras'.
"San Diego is one of the most progressive transit operators in America. We are proud to retain MTS as a valued New Flyer customer and thrilled to continue delivering buses to them," said Paul Soubry, President and CEO of New Flyer. "We have built a lasting partnership over the last 20 years with New Flyer having manufactured approximately 90 percent of their fleet of over 500 heavy-duty transit buses".
This award was part of the group of firm and option orders for 509 EUs received just prior to the end of 2012 noted in the New Flyer press release of Jan. 9 as included in the New Flyer backlog, but awaiting approval for the issue of a detailed announcement.
The 47 CNG buses are anticipated to begin production in the second quarter of 2013 and will be completely manufactured and assembled at New Flyer of America's St. Cloud, MN manufacturing facility. All buses are expected to be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2013.
