American Battery Solutions (ABS) has signed a multi-year contract with bus manufacturer NFI Group to supply custom battery packs for NFI subsidiary New Flyer’s newest 35-, 40- and 60-foot battery-electric transit buses. NFI is now launching ABS batteries into bus production for customer deliveries starting in the first quarter of 2024.

ABS designed, tested and validated the Li-ion batteries at its engineering and development center in Lake Orion, Michigan, and will produce them at its manufacturing plant in Springboro, Ohio.

This scalable custom-designed pack solution is based on the ABS ProLiance Intelligent Battery Series architecture, and fits inside NFI’s existing battery enclosure design. ABS has secured the cell supply by signing long-term supply agreements with several cell makers, ensuring cell supply through the end of the decade.

And plenty of cells will be needed—the market for electric buses in North America is heating up. According to a recent report from CALSTART, there were 5,480 zero-emission transit buses on the road or on order as of the end of 2022. NFI expects that 40% of its 2025 production will be zero-emission buses.

“This contract reflects NFI’s well-placed confidence in ABS’s ability to meet technical and performance requirements at a healthy volume with the competitive cost position,” said ABS founder and CEO Subhash Dhar. “We have invested over $ 200 million in our state-of-the-art automated pack assembly line and facility, with the capacity to deliver the product NFI needs so that it can continue to lead the electrification of public transportation in North America.”

“Demand for battery-electric buses is accelerating, and NFI is leading the evolution to zero-emission public transportation in North America. Our partnership with ABS will provide NFI with the capacity, flexibility and resiliency we need as we ramp up production,” said NFI CEO Paul Soubry. “ABS has made significant investments in their pack assembly and battery technology, providing NFI with industry-leading solutions.”

Source: American Battery Solutions