New Flyer of America Inc. says it is advancing production of 105 Xcelsior diesel-electric hybrid, 40-foot, heavy-duty transit buses for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA).
According to New Flyer, this is the second installment of a five-year contract for 525 hybrid buses approved by SEPTA in May 2016.
The buses will be deployed in Philadelphia and surrounding suburbs of Delaware, Montgomery, Bucks and Chester, supporting 4 million people living in and around southeastern Pennsylvania.
SEPTA General Manager Jeffrey Knueppel noted that while over half of SEPTA’s current bus fleet are diesel-electric hybrids, at the conclusion of the five-year contract, hybrids will comprise 95% of its bus fleet.
“Public transportation is an environmentally friendly way to get around, and it’s only getting greener with more hybrid buses on the road,” says Knueppel. “SEPTA is proud to be an industry leader in providing cleaner, more fuel-efficient travel by increasing hybrid buses in its fleet.”
“As SEPTA continues to deliver on innovation, integration, and renewal through 2019, we will be there to support its goals of lower emissions, reliable transportation, and greater environmental sustainability,” adds Wayne Joseph, president of New Flyer of America.
SEPTA is one of only two U.S. transit authorities that operates all five major types of ground transit vehicles: regional rail trains, heavy rapid transit trains, light rail vehicles, trolley buses, and motor buses.
Many of us in Philadelphia see this as doubling down on out of date technology, when SEPTA should instead be transitioning as quickly as possible to an all-electric bus fleet. The hybrids generate significant pollution in a city that receives an “F” from the American Lung Association for air quality, in addition to contributing to climate change. New Flyer – please send us your electrics instead!
Great news. New Flyer makes electric buses also, correct? We as Philadelphians would love to see our entire fleet morph into zero-emission electric buses.