Miami-Dade invests in CNG with 300 vehicles

Miami-Dade Transit — the United States’ 15th largest public transport system — has ordered 300 compressed natural gasfuelled Xcelsior single-deckers from market leader New Flyer.

The 40ft (12.2m) Xcelsiors will be delivered in 2017/18 and are direct replacements for life-expired diesels in its Metrobus fleet. They meet the county mayor and commissioners’ requirement for vehicles that use greener fuel sources.

‘By upgrading with CNG, we’re implementing a cost-effective approach to the reduction of our dependency on petroleum-based fuel and lowering our maintenance costs,’ says transport and public works director Alice N. Bravo.

The order, valued at $159million (£128million), includes aftersales support and a new partnership with Trillium CNG, which will design, build and operate the fuelling stations.