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Bus Maker New Flyer’s All Electric Prototype Begins Testing

New Flyer is a Winnipeg, Canada-based bus manufacturer which has been making city transit solutions since 1930. They make typically American-looking buses for the US, Canada and part of Latin America and the company now has a new model.
Xcelsior Bus by New Flyer 1 photo
Photo: A. Wong
The all-electric bus is a joint effort between the Manitoba Government, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), New Flyer Industries Canada ULC, Manitoba Hydro and Red River College. They have recently converted one of their 12m (40-foot) Xcelsior heavy-duty buses to use an electric drivetrain, which will be get its juice from lithium-ion batteries supplied by MHI, instead of a diesel engine, like most ‘green’ buses nowadays. They have used an existing design to cut both their costs and the operating costs of the vehicles after they enter service, as the Xcelsior is a common bus which has many different drivetrain options - this will be one more.

Testing of the new all-electric buses will be carried out over the next two years, and everybody involved seems to be optimistic, including Chris Stoddart, New Flyer's vice president, Engineering Services, who stated: "We are thrilled to be part of this exciting partnership lead by the Province of Manitoba. The electric bus is a great example of superlative collaboration of government, educational institutions and industry for a common goal. The future is definitely green."

Story via hybridcars.com
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