California’s Foothill Transit orders 20 H2 buses from New Flyer

New Flyer has received a new contract from Foothill Transit for 20 fuel cell Xcelsior CHARGE H2 buses. This order is supported by Federal Transit Administration funds. This fuel cell bus order follows the order for 5 H2 buses commissioned a few days ago by GET, also in California. Still il California, New Flyer hydrogen buses have been ordered also by Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) and San Francisco Bay Area’s AC Transit.

This order demonstrates that there is no ‘one size fits all’ for electrification, and that operators require a range of bus sizes and propulsion systems to optimize their service offering

Paul Soubry, President and Chief Executive Officer, NFI.

Foothill Transit, electric buses in America

Foothill Transit is based in West Covina, California, operating one of the largest fleets of electric buses in America and providing over 14 million trips annually in the San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys. Foothill Transit was the first in the country to put battery-electric buses on the road, and was the first bus-only public transit system in North America to reach the American Public Transportation Association’s Platinum Level for its significant sustainability achievements.

The Xcelsior CHARGE H2 is a battery-electric vehicle using compressed hydrogen as an energy source and range extender, requiring only 6-20 minutes to refuel. Built on New Flyer’s Xcelsior platform, the Xcelsior CHARGE H2 can save 85 to 135 tons of greenhouse gas per year from tailpipe emissions compared to a diesel bus, New Flyer says.

Foothill Transit on a path to fully zero emission fleet

“Foothill Transit is a leader in the adoption and deployment of electric mass mobility. This order demonstrates that there is no ‘one size fits all’ for electrification, and that operators require a range of bus sizes and propulsion systems to optimize their service offering,” said Paul Soubry, President and Chief Executive Officer, NFI. “Since 2004, NFI has supported the agency’s progressive sustainability goals with nearly 380 low-emission, compressed natural gas buses delivered, and, more recently, two Alexander Dennis E500 battery-electric double deck buses.”

“We were excited to be the first grid-powered battery electric bus pioneer, and have continued our zero emissions evolution with the first battery electric Alexander Dennis double deck bus launch earlier this year,” said Doran Barnes, Chief Executive Officer, Foothill Transit. “Our path to a fully zero emission fleet continues with the addition of NFI hydrogen fuel cell technology. We envision a future where a variety of strategies work together to allow us to achieve our zero emission goals.”

“Our Xcelsior CHARGE H2 buses, developed by leveraging years of experience producing hydrogen fuel cell buses, are a game changer for North American operators,” said Chris Stoddart, President, North American Bus and Coach. “These buses – which can travel up to 350 miles on a single refueling – not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but also deliver extended range, fast fill times, and no reduction in performance from beginning to end of life.