Ballard Power Systems has inked a new Long-Term Supply Agreement (LTSA) with NFI Group, a prominent independent bus and coach manufacturer renowned for its leadership in electric mass mobility solutions across North America and Europe.
The agreement signals a pivotal phase in the longstanding collaboration between Ballard and NFI, with a specific focus on deploying substantial volumes of fuel cell-powered buses under NFI’s major brands, including New Flyer, Alexander Dennis, and MCI.
Under the LTSA, NFI has initiated its commitment with a substantial purchase order for a minimum of 100 FCmove-HD+ modules, slated for delivery in 2024. These modules, produced primarily at Ballard’s Bend, Oregon facility with Buy America compliance, will be the driving force behind New Flyer’s next-generation Xcelsior CHARGE FC™ hydrogen fuel cell buses. The deployment is planned across various regions in the US and Canada, encompassing California, Manitoba, Nevada, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.
The collaboration between Ballard and NFI spans multiple decades, fostering synergies in design, engineering, and sourcing across various bus products and jurisdictions. NFI’s decision to place Ballard at the forefront of its fuel cell bus strategy underscores the confidence and reliability established through years of collaboration.
The collaboration positions New Flyer to deliver deployment-scale volumes of fuel cell buses, particularly in the US market. Hydrogen fuel cell-powered buses are gaining traction among operators for their extended range, rapid refueling times, high availability, and cost-effective infrastructure requirements. As demand for zero-emission transit solutions continues to rise, this strategic partnership aims to propel the hydrogen bus market forward.
The Ballard-NFI partnership exemplifies a shared commitment to ushering in a new era of sustainable and zero-emission transit solutions, providing a blueprint for the broader transportation industry.
