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American Battery Solutions Signs Supply Agreement with NFI Group

American Battery Solutions Signs Supply Agreement with NFI Group

American Battery Solutions (ABS) has signed a multi-year contract with NFI Group Inc. to provide custom battery packs for New Flyer's battery-electric transit buses, providing clean power. ABS will manufacture the batteries at its plant in Springboro, OH, with the engineering and development center located in Lake Orion, MI. It will supply Li-Ion batteries for NFI's 35-, 40-, and 60-foot battery-electric transit buses. The production is set to begin in the third quarter of 2023, with deliveries starting in the first quarter of 2024.

According to CALSTART's annual ‘Zeroing in on ZEBs’ report, the market for electric buses in North America has passed the ‘tipping point,’ with more than 5,480 zero-emission transit buses on the road by the end of 2022. NFI anticipates that 40% of its 2025 production will consist of zero-emission buses, and is spearheading the North American transition to zero-emission public transportation.

Paul Soubry, President and CEO at NFI, stated that the demand for battery-electric buses was rising. NFI was at the forefront of driving the transition to zero-emission public transportation in North America. He mentioned that their partnership with ABS would grant NFI the necessary capacity, flexibility, and resilience required as they increased production at their facilities throughout North America. Soubry noted that ABS had made substantial investments in their pack assembly and battery technology, offering NFI cutting-edge solutions within the industry. He expressed anticipation for collaborating with ABS to advance battery technology within the public transportation sector.

The scalable custom-designed pack solution is based on the ABS ProLiance Intelligent Battery SeriesTM architecture. It fits within NFI's existing battery enclosure design, providing an alternate supply source for NFI's battery-electric bus contracts and opening the door for potential technology enhancements. ABS has secured the cell supply through strategic alliances with world-class cell manufacturers. These partnerships have ratified long-term supply agreements that guarantee cell supply through the end of the decade, supporting ABS's NFI ramp and other customer programs.

NFI's turnkey smart charging services have provided over 410 chargers to NFI's battery and fuel cell-electric buses and coaches, which have travelled over 120 million electric service kilometers. With electric vehicles in over 140 cities in six countries, NFI leads zero-emission mobility.

About American Battery Solutions

American Battery Solutions (ABS) specializes in designing and producing modular battery solutions, primarily serving the transportation, industrial, and commercial sectors across North America and Europe. The ABS team comprises renowned experts in battery systems, boasting extensive experience in advanced battery systems' design, development, and high-volume manufacturing. They have channeled their expertise into the transportation segments, focusing on module production, pack assembly, and seamless customer integration. Operating from a substantial 120,000 sq. ft. technical center in Michigan and 170,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art battery manufacturing facility in Ohio, ABS has a robust presence.

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