Westchester County NY Mass Transit makes Bee-Line for new Hybrid-Electric Buses

Canadian bus manufacturer New Flyer of America (NFI) has completed the delivery of 106 hybrid-electric 40-foot buses to Westchester County in New York in the U.S.

The delivery marks a key milestone for the county’s Bee-Line mass transportation system, with the fleet now featuring 88 percent electric or hybrid buses.

The new Xcelsior hybrid-electric buses are expected to provide passengers with a quieter and more comfortable ride, improve air quality for over one million residents, and save the county in fuel costs, according to the release.

“New Flyer’s hybrid-electric buses reduce NOx emissions up to 50-percent and particulate matter levels up to 100 percent, bridging the gap between traditional diesel engines and zero-emission propulsion,” said Chris Stoddart, President of North American Bus and Coach at NFI. “These new Xcelsior buses will provide an improved passenger experience with lower vehicle emissions and will support the Bee-Line in its sustainability journey.”

The new bus can seat 40 passengers and includes amenities such as USB charging ports at every seat, a bike rack and a driver protective shield. Each bus costs $715,721 and was about 70-percent federally funded.

“My administration is committed to reducing pollution and providing a greener future for all residents,” Westchester County Executive George Latimer said. “The completion of this delivery represents the latest step our county is taking to meet its sustainability goals. Many people rely on the Bee-Line to get them where they need to go and these buses are a safe, clean, and comfortable ride.”

The county aims to replace its remaining 40 diesel buses with either hybrid or electric ones within the next two years.

“As buses have aged out of the fleet, we have made it a priority to purchase more energy-efficient ones that are better for the environment,” Commissioner of the Westchester County Department of Public Works and Transportation Hugh Greechan said.

The county added its first all-electric bus to the system in 2021. It currently has two 40-foot and four 35-foot all-electric buses that operate out of the Valhalla depot. The county has six electric vehicle chargers within the Valhalla facility and plans to expand its charging infrastructure in the coming years to include the central maintenance facility in Yonkers.

New Flyer actively supports more than 35,000 heavy-duty transit buses currently in service, of which 8,600 are powered by electric motors and battery propulsion and 1,900 are zero-emission.