© New Flyer

The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) has ordered 50 zero-emission buses from New Flyer of America Inc., a subsidiary of NFI Group Inc. This move expands the agency’s clean energy fleet and strengthens its long-standing partnership with New Flyer.

The contract includes 40 Xcelsior CHARGE FC™ hydrogen fuel cell-electric buses and 10 Xcelsior CHARGE NG™ battery-electric buses. These units were added to New Flyer’s fourth-quarter 2024 backlog and are funded through a mix of Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grants and local financing.

OCTA serves more than 3 million residents across 34 cities, handling over 33 million passenger trips annually. Expanding its zero-emission fleet is part of its effort to reduce emissions and modernize public transit.

Hydrogen Fueling Infrastructure

OCTA launched a hydrogen fuel cell-electric bus pilot program in 2020, followed by a battery-electric pilot in 2022—both using New Flyer buses. As part of this effort, the agency built the largest hydrogen fueling station for transit buses in the U.S. This facility supports the expansion of hydrogen-powered buses and strengthens OCTA’s ability to maintain a reliable fleet.

Industry Impact

Chris Stoddart, President of North American Bus and Coach at NFI, said: “OCTA’s investment in advanced, high-performance transportation is a win for both Orange County and U.S. bus manufacturing. Our partnership of nearly 35 years reflects New Flyer’s ability to deliver reliable, cost-effective and clean transit solutions that support economic growth, job creation, and energy efficiency for communities like Orange County.”

New Flyer’s zero-emission buses are in service or on order in more than 150 cities across six countries. The company’s electric and hydrogen-powered buses have already logged over 220 million miles.