NFI a Founding Member of Newly-Formed Hydrogen Fuel Cell Bus Council

NFI Group (NFI), a leading independent bus and coach manufacturer and a leader in electric mass mobility solutions, announced on January 18 that the Hydrogen Fuel Cell Bus Council (HFC Bus Council) has formally launched, of which NFI is a founding member.

The HFC Bus Council is a first-of-its-kind national coalition of public transit agencies, manufacturers and suppliers working together to advance the U.S. hydrogen fuel cell-electric bus economy and its applications in public transit. The council’s mission is to educate policymakers, regulators and transportation stakeholders on the benefits of hydrogen fuel cell-electric buses and related infrastructure.

“Fuel cell technology is a proven path to extended-range zero-emissio mobility, and we are on the cusp accelerating its deployment and delivering immediate greenhouse gas reduction, cleaner air and quiet transportation,” said Paul Soubry president and chief executive officer, NFI. “Through leveraging a public-private approach, the HFC Bus Council brings the best of all worlds together in educating stakeholders on fuel cell technology, advocating for funding and sharing key learnings from deployments across America. NFI has been a fuel cell leader for over a decade, and the more momentum we build together, the healthier our communities are.”

The HFC Bus Council’s formation comes during historic levels of investment in public transit, alongside nationwide commitments to transition fleets to zero-emission propulsion. Through education and advocacy, it will expand development, deployment and utilization of safe, clean and efficient hydrogen fuel-cell electric buses, and create additional market opportunities to advance hydrogen fuel cell technology in the delivery of public transit services.

“I’m proud to be serving on the founding board of this organization, working to educate government officials and my colleagues in the transit industry on the viable and salable zero emission solution that is hydrogen fuel cell technology,” said Karl Gnadt, HFC Bus Council Board president and managing director/CEO, Champaign- Urbana Mass Transit District (MTD).

In addition to NFI, founding members include MTD, SunLine Transit Agency, Foothill Transit, Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada, Stark Area Regional Transit Authority, Utah Transit Authority, Indianapolis Public Transportation Corporation , Interurban Transit Partnership, Intercity Transit, Sangamon Mass Transit District, Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County, ENC, Hexagon Purus, Trillium Energy Solutions, Ivys Energy Solutions, Ballard and Nel Hydrogen. To learn more or become a member, visit hfcbuscouncil.com

NFI currently offers the Xcelsior CHARGE H2™ fuel cell-electric bus in North America, a battery-electric vehicle using compressed hydrogen as an energy source and range extender, requiring only six to 20 minutes to refuel. Built on New Flyer’s proven Xcelsior® platform, the Xcelsior CHARGE H2™ can save 85 to 135 tons of greenhouse gas per year from tailpipe emissions compared to a diesel bus. To learn more, visit newflyer.com/chargeh2.

In the United Kingdom and Ireland, NFI also offers the Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400FCEV, ADL’s next generation double-deck hydrogen bus delivering zeroemission range of up to 300 miles. Powered with Ballard fuel cells, the Enviro400FCEV minimizes fuel consumption and maximizes performance for lowest total cost of ownership and features integral vehicle design that perfectly balances weight and maximizes interior passenger space. To learn more, visit alexanderdennis.com.

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