Optare wins largest ever UK hybrid bus order14 May 2010

Optare has won the largest single order for hybrid buses so far placed in the UK – a mix of 66 Tempo, Versa and Solo buses for Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Authority.

The order is worth £13 million to the Leeds and Blackburn-based manufacturer and is being part-funded by £3 million from the Government's Green Bus Fund and £1.3m from other funders, including Wigan Council.

Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive's (GMPTE) interim bus and rail director Michael Renshaw confirms that the GMITA fleet will be made up of eight Solo SR 8.2m plus 12 Versa 9.7m for Metroshuttle, 10 Solo 8.8m plus 20 Versa 9.7m for the general fleet, and 16 Tempo 12m for school buses.

All will harness Optare's diesel-electric hybrid system, using ultra-capacitors, as well as the company's Eco Drive system to manage driver behaviour. The buses will also have telematics, combining a passenger counting device, real time information, CCTV and vehicle diagnostics.

"Public transport has a key role to play in helping the city region to cut carbon emissions. The introduction of a new fleet of low carbon, more fuel-efficient buses will be an important step towards achieving our environmental aims," states Renshaw.

Meanwhile, Optare CEO Jim Sumner, who pioneered Eco Drive, says: "The fact is that all hybrid buses are not the same: we firmly believe that our Eco Drive hybrids will set the benchmark for emission and fuel saving advantages."

And he adds: "This order emphasises our lead in the design and production of low and zero emission buses… When we launched Optare's Eco Drive programme last September we believed it would be a winner with operators seeking both low emissions and realistic costs. We anticipate being able to announce further orders for low carbon bus models in the near future, both from UK and export markets."

Author
Brian Tinham

Related Companies
Optare plc

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