New Flyer of America Inc., a subsidiary of New Flyer Industries Inc., announced that the industry's first 60-foot electric heavy-duty transit bus is to undergo testing at the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) proving grounds in Altoona, Pa.

New Flyer's innovative XE60 battery-electric bus, and its sister XHE60 hydrogen fuel-cell bus, are both powered by Siemens electric motors with rechargeable lithium-ion battery technology manufactured in Michigan. These bus models incorporate a unique two-axle drive system for added traction and enhanced safety and both produce zero tail pipe pollution and zero green-house gas emissions.

The XE60 version is an all-electric transit bus that can be offered with either extended range batteries or with en-route fast charging capability, requiring fewer on-board batteries for continuous service operations. New Flyer's XHE60 model is a battery electric 60-foot articulated transit bus that incorporates a small hydrogen fuel cell operating as an on-board battery charger.

Both the XE60 and XHE60 are built on the industry-proven and highly-reliable Xcelsior® platform, with over 8,000 buses in-service daily throughout North America.

New Flyer manufacturer's electric buses in 35-, 40-, and 60-foot models. The XE60 and its sister XHE60 will be deployed initially at the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority and Oakland, Calif.’s AC Transit, respectively.