St. Louis Set to Deploy New Flyer Battery-Electric Buses

by METRO Staff

October 2, 2020

St. Louis Set to Deploy New Flyer Battery-Electric Buses — Credit:
New Flyer

2 min to read

New Flyer of America Inc. delivered two pilot buses to Metro Transit as part of a contract awarded to New Flyer for 14 Xcelsior CHARGE™ battery-electric, 60-foot heavy-duty transit buses (28 equivalent units or “EUs”). To support the deployment, New Flyer Infrastructure Solutions™ was awarded an $8.72 million contract from Bi-State Development, the operator of Metro Transit, for the construction of battery-electric bus charging infrastructure.

The procurement, led by Metro Transit and supported by Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funds, will integrate zero-emission vehicles to supplement the existing MetroBus fleet — becoming the first deployed into regular permanent service in the Metro Transit system.

New Flyer’s Infrastructure Solutions team is partnering with Burns & McDonnell, a Kansas City-based national engineering firm, as well as local teams and experts to complete the planning, engineering, procurement, construction, and commissioning of both long-range depot charging and on-route rapid charging infrastructure.

“Battery electric buses represent our commitment to creating a more environmentally and economically efficient transit system. We will begin the shift to a leaner and greener operation, not just with the battery electric buses but with infrastructure and our operating facilities,” said Metro Transit Executive Director Jessica Mefford-Miller. “We want the best for our region and are looking toward building long-term sustainable mobility options. With New Flyer, we know we can count on quality buses and leading zero-emission technology to provide clean, quiet transportation.”

Bi-State Development operates the Metro Transit public transportation system for the greater St. Louis region, providing MetroBus, MetroLink light rail, Metro Call-A-Ride paratransit services in eastern Missouri and southwestern Illinois. Bi-State Development also owns and operates St. Louis Downtown Airport, the Gateway Arch Riverboats, the trams at the Gateway Arch, and the region’s freight district — the St. Louis Regional Freightway.

Topics:St. Louis Metro New Flyer battery-electric buses Zero-Emissions Vehicles Bus Zero Emissions

More Zero Emissions

Rows of MTA's Long Island Railroad (LIRR) commuter rail cars.

Zero Emissions•by Staff and News Reports•March 13, 2026

New York Awards $4.5M for Zero-Emission Microtransit and Bike Access Projects

NYSERDA funding will support electric microtransit and secure bike storage to improve first- and last-mile connections across downstate New York.

Bus•by Alex Roman•March 13, 2026

Inside The Bus Coalition’s Push for Stronger Federal Transit Investment

In this conversation, TBC’s Executive Director Ed Redfern, President Corey Aldridge, and Washington Representative Joel Rubin outline the coalition’s key policy priorities, the challenges facing transit agencies, and how industry stakeholders can work together to strengthen the voice of bus transit at the federal level.

Zero Emissions•by Alex Roman•March 10, 2026

U.S. Zero-Emission Bus Adoption Surpasses 8,000 Vehicles

CALSTART’s latest Zeroing in on ZEBs report shows continued nationwide growth despite supply-chain challenges. The group’s Deputy Director of Transit, Mike Hynes, talked to METRO about how agencies are adapting procurement strategies, fleet plans, and more.