New Flyer of America Inc. announced it is advancing fourth-year production of 115 Xcelsior® 40-foot diesel-electric hybrid, heavy-duty transit buses for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA). This is the fourth installment of a five-year contract by SEPTA for a total of 525 hybrid buses awarded to New Flyer in May 2016.

The hybrid Xcelsior buses support SEPTA’s “SEPT-AINABLE 2020” program, focused on achieving sustainability through a “triple-bottom-line” approach that includes the natural environment, healthy communities and workforce, and economic vitality.

Through its investment in hybrid bus technologies, SEPTA has significantly reduced bus energy consumption, which accounts for approximately half of all of the agency’s transportation energy. At the conclusion of the five-year New Flyer contract, hybrids will comprise 95% of SEPTA’s bus fleet.

SEPTA is one of only two U.S. transit authorities operating all five major types of terrestrial transit vehicles: regional rail trains, heavy rapid transit trains, light rail vehicles, trolley buses, and motor buses with a total annual ridership of over 300 million.