New Flyer of America Inc. received two new contracts from Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District (MTD) for a total of nine battery-electric, zero-emission Xcelsior CHARGE® 40-foot heavy-duty transit buses.

MTD provides bus service in Southern Santa Barbara County, Calif., delivering nearly 6.4 million annual bus rides in a typical year. Supported by Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funds, the new bus orders deliver on MTD’s pursuit of a 100% zero-emission fleet by 2030 and also fulfill the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) Innovative Clean Transit (ICT) regulation, requiring agencies to switch to 100% zero-emission bus fleets by 2040.

“Today, MTD joins ten California transit agencies in choosing battery-electric buses from New Flyer to power their transition to zero-emission mobility,” said Chris Stoddart, president, North American Bus and Coach, NFI. “Built on the proven Xcelsior platform, our battery-electric buses deliver immediate clean air benefits by reducing up to 160 tons of greenhouse gas emissions per year. Together with MTD, we are mitigating climate change and building more sustainable communities in California.”