New Flyer earns San Diego MTS CNG order

New Flyer Industries Inc. announced that the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) 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).

The bus order and future Xcelsior CNG procurements will build on San Diego's already significant fleet of environmentally friendly buses, consisting of approximately 80% 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.

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, Minn. manufacturing facility. All buses are expected to be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2013.