New Flyer of America Inc. (New Flyer) received a contract from California's Porterville Transit, operated by the City of Porterville, for three battery-electric Xcelsior CHARGE NG 35-foot heavy-duty transit buses, supported by a combination of Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grants and local funds.

The agency becomes the 12th in California to purchase zero-emission buses (ZEBs) from NFI.

Porterville Transit provides transportation services in the City of Porterville in Tulare County, California, delivering nearly 700,000 annual rides on fixed-route bus lines. The order expands the agency’s fleet of alternative fuel vehicles to reduce emissions, outlined in its Transit Plan, while delivering on the California Air Resources Board’s Innovative Clean Transit regulation, requiring agencies to switch to 100% zero-emission bus fleets by 2040. 

“Built on NFI’s proven Xcelsior platform with over 16,000 buses delivered across North America, the Xcelsior CHARGE NG is our most advanced battery-electric bus,” said Chris Stoddart, president, North American bus and coach, NFI. “Providing up to 440kWh of energy and 220 miles of range on a single charge, our extended range buses will deliver clean, safe, and quiet sustainable transportation to the Porterville community.” 

Introduced in 2021, the Xcelsior CHARGE NG incorporates three technology advancements, including high-energy batteries that extend range up to 13%, protective battery packaging, and a new lightweight electric traction drive system with up to 90% energy recovery.