New Flyer’s 60-ft. Electric Bus Rapid Transit Models Complete FTA Altoona Testing

New Flyer of America Inc., a subsidiary of NFI Group Inc., the largest transit bus and motor coach manufacturer and parts distributor in North America, announces that New Flyer’s 60-ft. articulated heavy-duty transit bus has become the first and only 60-ft. battery-electric bus to complete the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Model Bus Testing Program at Altoona, PA (Altoona Testing). 

With successful completion of Altoona Testing, U.S. transit agencies can now utilize FTA funding in support of their purchases of 60-ft. (battery and fuel cell) electric Bus Rapid Transit (eBRT) buses from New Flyer, further enabling smart mobility solutions for cities across North America.

"We are tremendously proud to lead transit bus innovation in North America with the first 60-ft. electric bus to complete Altoona Testing,” says Wayne Joseph, President, New Flyer of America. “Other manufacturers have attempted the rigorous Altoona tests with 60-ft. buses without success, so we celebrate this important milestone in deploying zero-emission bus propulsion technology, on a proven, safe, and reliable bus platform.”

Since 1988, New Flyer has delivered over 7,000 60-ft. articulated buses with a variety of propulsion systems. All New Flyer zero-emission bus (ZEB) models, including trolley-electric, battery-electric, and fuel cell-electric, are built on New Flyer’s proven Xcelsior platform, which recently celebrated the delivery of its 10,000th bus.

“Our 60-ft. electric bus models offer the highest capacity of any transit bus in North America, with the ability to transport 132 passengers at a time,” says Chris Stoddart, Senior Vice President of Engineering and Customer Service, New Flyer. “New Flyer’s 60-ft. battery-electric and fuel cell-electric model buses are equipped with two driven axles (rear and center) for enhanced traction and control in all weather conditions; an added safety feature of our exclusive electric propulsion system. Combined with regenerative braking from electric motors using Siemens power management to recharge lithium-ion batteries sourced in America, this eBRT assists with reduced traffic congestion, cost effective transit, improved air quality, and greater smart mobility solutions to communities across America.”

NFI has over 50 years of experience in manufacturing zero-emission buses (ZEBs), with more electric buses on the road in America than any other manufacturer. It is the only provider of full suite bus solutions in North America, offering transit, motor coach, and low-floor cutaway buses.

In 2018, New Flyer became the first bus manufacturer in the world to sign on to the Shared Mobility Principles for Livable Cities, joined CharIN to support industry charging standards for all electric vehicles, became the first licensee outside the Volvo Group to join OppCharge in North America, signed CALSTART’s Global Commercial Drive to Zero to support fast-tracking adoption of clean trucks and buses, and also signed the Transportation Electrification Accord focused on driving an equitable and prosperous future for electrified transportation.