Washington’s King County Metro has awarded New Flyer 20 additional sixty-foot zero-emission, battery-electric Xcelsior CHARGE heavy-duty transit buses.
Metro is one of the ten largest transit agencies in the United States, providing over 122 million annual passenger trips in King County, Washington, and including the city of Seattle. Metro’s long-term commitment, first announced January 2020, is to achieve a 100% zero-emissions fleet powered by renewable energy no later than 2040.
The addition of 20 battery-electric buses marks another key milestone in reaching Metro’s goal to improve air quality, reduce carbon, and provide equitable access to sustainable transportation.
This order follows the completion of an 18-month electric bus evaluation of two 60-foot New Flyer Xcelsior CHARGE buses program initiated in 2018. The buses were purchased as option orders off of the Commonwealth of Virginia state contract.
“Metro has long been an early adopter of advanced innovation, and the transition to zero-emission mobility is no exception. New Flyer battery-electric buses offer significant noise reduction, cost savings, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions – all while consistently performing through rigorous operating environments to keep the community moving,” said Chris Stoddart, President, New Flyer and MCI.
“Having delivered over 1,830 buses to King County since 1979 – with over half comprised of zero-emission or hybrid electric propulsions on common and proven Xcelsior bus platforms – New Flyer technology has assisted Metro’s transition to clean, quiet, reliable and sustainable transit.”
