California, OCTA places a battery-electric bus order with New Flyer (following an H2 fleet delivery)

A batch of 10 New Flyer electric buses has been ordered in California by the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA). OCTA serves 34 cities within Orange County, California, providing transportation to the state’s third-largest county and supporting nearly 40 million passengers per year. The PTO has set a strategy aimed at the full transition of the bus fleet to zero emission technology within a 20 years framework.

The purchase follows New Flyer’s recent delivery to OCTA of 10 hydrogen fuel cell-electric Xcelsior CHARGE H2 transit buses and moves toward fulfilment of California’s Innovative Clean Transit regulation. Approved in late 2019, it requires public transit agencies throughout the state to commit to buying only zero-emission buses (battery electric or fuel cell) starting in 2029. A move that makes particularly sense, given the fact that California is the US leader in electricity generation from non-hydroelectric renewable energy source(geothermal, wind, solar).

OCTA has already gradually transitioned its fleet over the years, from diesel-burning buses to clean-burning renewable compressed natural gas (CNG) buses with near-zero-emission engines.

OCTA towards a zero emission bus fleet

“As we drive toward a zero-emission future, NFI continues to deliver clean, safe, accessible and quiet electric buses throughout the US and around the world,” said Paul Soubry, President and Chief Executive Officer, NFI. “Our turnkey electric vehicle solutions combined with dedicated focus on our customer and the end user experience position us extremely well for continued success as we deliver the industry’s broadest offering of battery and fuel-cell electric buses and coaches.” 

“With over 1,000 buses delivered since 1990, OCTA continues to rely on New Flyer’s advanced zero-emission technology, including battery-electric and fuel-cell buses, in its transition to clean mobility,” said Chris Stoddart, President, North America Bus and Coach. We look forward to continuing to work with OCTA through this new order, which will help create cleaner and more livable communities throughout Orange County by reducing emissions and lowering California’s carbon footprint.”