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- American Battery Solutions will supply batteries to NFI Group, North America’s largest bus manufacturer
American Battery Solutions will supply batteries to NFI Group, North America’s largest bus manufacturer
NFI, a provider of mobility solutions, and American Battery Solutions (ABS), a designer and manufacturer of modular battery solutions, have announced a partnership to supply battery packs for NFI’s zero-emission buses. According to CALSTART’s annual “Zeroing in on ZEBs” report, the market for electric buses in North America has surpassed 5,480 zero-emission transit buses on the road or on order as of the end of 2022. NFI anticipates that 40% of its 2025 production will be zero-emission buses.
The custom-designed pack solution is based on the ABS ProLiance Intelligent Battery Series architecture and fits within NFI’s existing battery enclosure design. This provides an alternate source of supply for NFI’s battery-electric bus contracts and creates opportunities for technology enhancements. The design and engineering have been led from ABS’ Michigan Innovation Center in Lake Orion, with pack production scheduled to begin in the third quarter of 2023 at ABS’ Springboro, OH manufacturing facility. ABS has secured the cell supply by partnering with world-class cell makers in strategic alliances, resulting in long-term supply agreements that ensure cell supply through the end of the decade.
NFI’s battery and fuel cell-electric buses and coaches have collectively traveled over 120 million electric service miles. NFI Infrastructure Solutions’ turnkey smart charging services have delivered more than 410 chargers to date. NFI’s electric vehicles are operating or on order in more than 140 cities in six countries. NFI supports North American cities with scalable, clean, and sustainable mobility solutions, including buses and coaches, infrastructure, parts and service, technology, workforce development and training, and vehicle financing.
ABS designs and manufactures modular battery solutions for transportation, industrial and commercial markets primarily in North America and Europe. It operates a 120,000 sq. ft. technical center in Michigan and a dedicated 170,000 square foot battery manufacturing facility in Ohio. It employs more than 250 people in Michigan, Ohio, and Massachusetts.
Subhash Dhar, ABS Founder, Chairman & CEO, said, “We are excited and proud to partner with NFI. This contract reflects NFI’s well-placed confidence in ABS’ ability to meet technical and performance requirements at a healthy volume with the competitive cost position. 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.”
Paul Soubry, President, and CEO, NFI, said, “Demand for battery-electric buses is accelerating. Our partnership with ABS will provide NFI with the capacity, flexibility, and resiliency we need as we ramp up production at our facilities across North America. ABS has made significant investments in their pack assembly and battery technology, providing NFI with industry leading solutions. We look forward to working together with ABS to advance battery technology within the public transportation industry.”