Forest River is poised to more than triple its electric bus sales in Canada, says David Wright, president of the company’s bus division, in an exclusive interview with Electric Autonomy Canada.
The catalyst: a blockbuster, $850 million agreement that Forest River completed in August with electric vehicle and powertrain supplier Lightning eMotors of Colorado.
That deal will see Lightning eMotors deliver up to 7,500 electric powertrains to be fitted into existing Forest River bus configurations for Class 4 and Class 5 Ford E-Series and F-Series vehicles, in 12-plus-2 and 16-plus-2 seating configurations, between 2021 and 2025.
Wright tells Electric Autonomy that of the company’s 400 to 500 units sold in Canada annually, fewer than a dozen were electric vehicles prior to the announcement. While he declined to offer a precise estimate of how many electric bus sales are now expected, Wright says Forest River has already quoted on 40 units for delivery in Canada, for customers ranging from large and small public transit agencies to universities, rental car locations and private contractors.
That, Wright hopes, is just the start. He says demand for electric buses among Forest River’s Canadian dealers is high, bolstered by the ongoing incentive support from the federal government and select provinces for electrifying commercial fleets.
Click here to read the full report from Stephanie Wallcraft in Canada’s Electric Autonomy.