Leading independent bus maker Optare has become a partner in Capoco’s pioneering driverless bus project – the mobilicity PPT system.

With its well-established design and manufacturing capabilities, Optare will be involved in the development of the environmentally-friendly vehicles, which will use remote guidance technology to navigate their way without the need for dedicated bus lanes or other expensive infrastructure.

In September 2006, Capoco announced that Frog Navigation Systems BV of The Netherlands, which has provided a range of automated transport systems for passenger and goods transport, had signed a Memorandum of Understanding to jointly collaborate on the design of this revolutionary public transport idea.

“With both Optare and Frog on board, mobilicity has taken a big step forward in being a credible provider of unique solutions to the fast-developing opportunities for pollution-free, low cost personalised public transport provided by intelligent ‘driverless’ buses in city centre operations”, says Alan Ponsford, Capoco’s Design Director and the creator of mobilicity.

Optare’s Chairman, Russell Richardson, said: “At Optare we have been at the forefront of public transport innovation for more than 20 years and we are continually looking for new ideas which will enhance both the practicality and attractiveness of passenger transportation.

“Capoco, with whom we have worked successfully for many years, have made a real contribution to the future of the bus with mobilicity and we are delighted to be able to play a role in this revolutionary project. Our manufacturing, engineering and design skills will be core to providing a vehicle which will be durable and reliable and which passengers will want to ride in”.

Capoco Design of the UK has pioneered its mobilicity PPT (Personalised Public Transport) concept, at a time when automated, demand responsive public transport systems are attracting international interest from urban transport operators keen to reduce costs. Already major transport undertakings have expressed an interest in mobilicity PPT.

A model of the mobilicity PPT system, developed in conjunction with the Royal College of Art, is now on show in the Antenna science news feature at London’s Science Museum.

For further information please contact:
Martin Hayes, Communications Advisor, +44 (0) 207 494 8050