NFI Group inks ‘historic’ deal to supply buses to Ireland

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This article was published 20/07/2021 (1317 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A subsidiary of Winnipeg’s NFI Group has inked a deal with Ireland’s national transport agency to potentially deliver that country’s largest purchase of zero-emission buses.

It’s a deal that’s been commenced with the initial firm order of 45 buses and could include up to 200 more. Those details were revealed on the same day 50 low-emission buses were also confirmed for California in the United States.

On Monday, leading manufacturer NFI Group Inc. announced that BYD Company U.K. and Alexander Dennis Ltd., a subsidiary of the NFI Group, have signed a partnership for five years. During that period, the National Transport Authority of Ireland will cover the costs of delivery for single-deck, long-length Enviro200EV buses that are battery-electric.

The arrangement hand-picked Alexander Dennis Ltd. as the primary contractor, after a “comprehensive and rigorous procurement process” in which the NFI Group provided “the strongest offer,” the BYD noted.

Paul Soubry, president and chief executive officer of NFI Group, called the deal “historic.”

“NFI is leading the Z-Evolution to zero-emission mobility and, through this historic contract — Ireland’s largest ever — our battery-electric vehicles will now operate in five countries,” Soubry said in a statement Monday. “We’re thrilled to continue working with the NTA as they drive lower emissions for the communities they serve and to see ADL’s continued expansion.”

Starting in 2022, Ireland’s first 45 buses can be expected for services in the Athlone and Dublin metropolitan areas. Those buses will all be built at Alexander Dennis factories in the U.K. with the “proven combination of BYD electric technology and batteries with stylish bodywork and passenger-centric interior by ADL,” the NFI Group said.

Neither ADL nor BYD would reveal a value for the transaction. In 2015, the two joined forces to serve customers in the U.K., Ireland and New Zealand.

Meantime, California’s public transport agency said Monday that 50 Xcelsior buses are set to arrive in North San Diego.

That U.S. purchase order is part of a contract signed back in 2016 between the government-regulated North County Transit District and New Flyer of America Inc., another subsidiary of the NFI Group. The deal includes up to 103 heavy-duty buses, paid through American federal transit funds, that will replace older and end-of-life vehicles with lower-emission buses.

Following Monday’s purchase, San Diego will see the average age of its BREEZE bus fleet go from at least 11 to just over six years old by August 2021.

 

temur.durrani@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @temurdur