Nova Bus announces order of electric buses from Harris County in Houston, Tx.

Nova Bus LFSe+ (CNW Group/Nova Bus)

PLATTSBURGH — Nova Bus, a member of the Volvo Group and a North American transit bus manufacturer, announces its largest electric bus contract to date. It has been awarded a contract for 20 LFSe+ in addition to 20 options, for a total of 40 electric buses, by the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO), as part of a sustainability initiative. The METRO Board authorized the immediate purchase of 20 of those electric buses and this order will be their first electric bus purchase on a total fleet of 1,300.

The buses are expected to be in operation by the fourth quarter of 2022, and they will initially have routes that serve communities more affected by carbon emissions and ones that have been chosen by Houston Complete Communities.

With an electric drive motor coupled with BAE Systems’ power electronics focused on efficiency, these electric buses purportedly provide reduced maintenance costs and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

“This is great news for New York and a big step forward for sustainable transportation,” said U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. “The purchase of forty of Nova Bus’ LFSe+ zero-emission, long-range, electric buses, destined for Texas, and built in Plattsburgh, NY is a culmination of years of innovative design and great planning. Nova Bus’ electric bus production is a critical pillar of the North Country’s economy and is creating a greener future for transportation.”

“Extraordinary news for Nova Bus to start the new year. We are thrilled to be working with METRO in their mission to have 100% zero-emission only bus procurement by 2030 in Houston. This LFSe+ contract is our most important so far in the U.S., and we are proud to continue our significant contribution in electrification of transportation in North America by introducing these zero-emission buses in Houston,” said Martin Larose, President of Nova Bus.