A groundbreaking strategic partnership agreement reached with Dawsonrentals bus and coach limited has secured a 50-bus order for Optare.
The agreement gives Dawsonrentals access to the international sales force of Optare’s major shareholder, Ashok Leyland, to facilitate the disposal of its used vehicles in right-hand-drive markets outside the UK. In return Dawsonrentals will purchase new replacement vehicles from Optare for its extensive UK rental fleet.
Optare Deputy CEO Glenn Saint commented: “This groundbreaking reciprocal collaboration will enable Dawson’s, through the purchase of Optare buses, to replace its rental fleet with new, improved and more fuel efficient vehicles. The agreement benefits Dawson’s by creating an outlet for its used vehicles in countries where the initial purchase price may be an obstacle to the acquisition of brand new buses. It will also reduce the excess of ageing vehicles in the UK market.
“This is a further demonstration of the excellent ‘fit’ of our Ashok Leyland ownership,” he added. “We have always said such benefits would flow from this and here is a very significant one”.
Optare will benefit from an ongoing new order stream commencing with the initial 50 vehicle order calling for the supply over the next six months of a mix of Solos, mostly in 9.0 and 9.7m form, which will join Dawsonrentals rental fleet.
Paul Sainthouse, Managing Director of Dawsonrentals bus and coach, said: “Our rental business depends upon our success in marketing our used vehicles and this agreement gives us access to new world markets for them supported by a Top 5 global bus player – Ashok Leyland. We are delighted that this reciprocal agreement also means that we will be able to offer our British rental customers an even better selection of new and advanced products from Optare.”
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Six more Optare Versa low-floor midibuses have joined the fleet of Network Warrington, five for use on the new Connect17 orbital service linking residential areas of the town with places of work and education and the sixth on other routes. The vehicles were handed over at a ceremony at Warrington Town Hall on Wednesday 1st May.
The new service has resulted from a successful bid made last year by Warrington Borough Council to the Department of Transport’s Local Sustainable Transport Fund.
This is the third time in just two years that Optare has supplied buses to Network Warrington. In April 2011 six Solos were delivered to replace time-expired Metroriders and last November six Versa diesel-electric hybrids were supplied with the help of the government’s Green Bus Fund.
Speaking at a handover event at Warrington Town Hall, Chair of Network Warrington, Maureen Banner, said: “This new service is designed to meet stakeholders’ needs. We want to encourage people to use our buses, which they will find modern, clean, safe and dependable.”
Optare Sales Director, John Horn, added: “We are very pleased that our buses are proving themselves on the streets of Warrington by providing a good travelling experience to local people. Receiving repeat orders from such a highly-regarded operator is always the best endorsement of the quality, reliability, fuel efficiency and passenger acceptance of our products and of the back-up support we provide.”
With seating for 37 plus up to 23 standees, the 11.1 metre Versas have ample capacity to meet anticipated peak demands on the new service. Passengers will also be assisted by an audio-visual system making next stop announcements along with Mobitec LED destination equipment.
Power for the Versas is from the Euro 5 compliant Mercedes-Benz OM904LA engine delivering 154 bhp (115 kW) and 610 Nm of torque. This is backed by a five-speed Allison automatic transmission with lock-up torque convertor and an electro-magnetic retarder is also fitted, both contributing further to the acknowledged fuel efficiency of the Mercedes engine.
2nd picture caption: Left to right: John Horn, Optare Sales Director; Maureen Banner, Chair of Network Warrington; Cllr Linda Dirir , Executive Board Member for Highways, Transportation and Climate Change at Warrington Borough Council; Ann Marie Slavin, Acting MD, Network Warrington; Damian Graham, Engineering Director, Network Warrington.
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“Amazing technology” is how Chris Reay, managing director of Reays Coaches of Wigton, describes his new Optare Solo SR hybrids, which are believed to be the first hybrids to enter service in Cumbria.
The 9.2 metre ultra-low emission Solo SRs are being used on the six-day-a-week hourly number 75 service between Dalston and Cotehill via Carlisle and which has been rebranded as the ‘Eco Hopper’.
” We are always looking for innovative ideas and this is a great way to help the environment, while also improving the service we provide for our passengers,” says Mr Reay. “Even when you are braking, the hybrid driveline takes the energy out of the motion and re-charges the battery. It is amazing technology.
“We were fortunate enough to be allocated money from the Green Bus Fund,” he adds, “but we have gone that extra mile and had leather seats installed throughout to give them a more luxury feel.
Seating capacity is 31 on leather trimmed Esteban Civic V2 seats and wood effect flooring adds to the sumptuous feel inside the saloon. A further 21 standees takes the total passenger capacity to 52, which is more than sufficient to meet peak time demands. The low entry height, front kneeling capability and simple fold-out wheelchair ramp also make the Solos easy to use by passengers of all levels of mobility.
A Siemens ELFA series hybrid drive system powers the buses. This well proven system
uses AC induction motors for their ruggedness and simple controls. As the use of an electric drive does not require a multi-speed gearbox there are no step changes during acceleration and deceleration resulting in a smoother and quieter ride. Two induction motors are coupled together through a summation gearbox to drive the rear axle.
A Euro 5 compliant Mercedes-Benz OM904LA engine powers a generator to produce electricity for storage in the roof-mounted Ultracapacitors. All auxiliary systems – brakes, doors, suspension, 24v system and hydraulics – are powered by ancillaries integrated into the diesel engine.
Optare Sales Director, John Horn, said: “We are very pleased to have supplied these super quiet and highly fuel efficient hybrid Solo SRs to Reays, who are a new bus customer for us.
“Their entry into service has created quite a buzz with some very positive comments from drivers and passengers alike. The high quality internal specification also shows how flexible Optare can be in meeting the needs of customers like Reays who want buses that will be more appealing to passengers and which will help increase bus usage.”
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An order for 20 electric buses placed with Yorkshire bus maker Optare by Nottingham City Council will result in the city taking a lead in the introduction of this advanced technology into its public transport network with what is thought will be the largest free-running EV bus fleet in Europe.
Nottingham City Council already has eight Optare Solo EV models in daily use delivering a quieter, smoother and emissions-free travelling experience for passengers on its high frequency CentreLink and MediLink city centre services. They have proved highly popular with users and are contributing to the City’s ambitious target of achieving a reduction of 26% in carbon emissions by 2020 when compared with the levels in 2005.
Councillor Jane Urquhart, portfolio holder for Planning and Transportation at Nottingham City Council, said: “This is a welcome addition to our fleet of buses. We have award winning public transport in Nottingham and a strong commitment to the environment. These buses will help us to continue leading the way in efficient, greener transportation.”
The new order consolidates Optare’s position as the UK and Europe’s leading manufacturer of full-size, commercially viable battery-powered electric buses.
This status was confirmed in November last year when the company won the prestigious SMMT* Innovation Award for its Versa EV model and associated fast-charging technology. And it is further underlined by the successful operation of Optare electric buses in Nottingham, Durham, Coventry, Dorset and at Heathrow Airport.
Speaking following the award of the contract, Optare’s Deputy CEO, Glenn Saint, said: “This is a significant and important order for Optare which validates the commitment we made three years ago to take the lead in electric bus technology in the UK.
“The successful operation of our EV models in Nottingham and elsewhere has proved beyond doubt that this technology is both technically and commercially viable and that electric buses have a place in the public transport scene both here in Britain and around the world.”
This latest Nottingham order is for ten each of Optare’s Solo SR midibus model and the larger Versa model. Although the Nottingham specifications have yet to be finalised, the largest Solo SR model can carry up to 33 seated passengers plus standees and the largest version of Versa can carry up to 40 passengers plus standees.
Each of the new buses will be equipped with a rapid charge system allowing them to use charging stations being installed at the Queen’s Drive Park and Ride site on the outskirts of the city. This technology will allow ‘opportunity charging’ during lunchtime layovers in the schedule to enable their daily range to be effectively doubled.
Part of the financing for the new buses is coming from round three of the Government’s Green Bus Fund, which covers the additional cost of the electric driveline.
Initial purchase costs are further counteracted during the lifetime of each bus with savings of up to £8,000 a year on fuel alone, with daily recharging costs estimated at less than £10.00. Further savings will result from significantly reduced maintenance costs because of the relative simplicity and robustness of the electric propulsion system and from Road Fund Licence savings.
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Leather seats and WiFi connectivity are part of the high quality specification of six Optare Solo SR midibuses that have just entered service in Crewe with independent operator D&G Bus.
Four of the buses are on the new ‘one1ink’ service that operates across the town connecting established employment sites, including Bentley Motors, with new industrial and retail developments and the town centre. This runs Monday to Saturday at a 15 minute frequency. Funding for the service was provided through the Department for Transport’s Local Sustainable Transport Fund.
The other two are being used to upgrade standards on the existing D&G Bus number 8 route into Crewe from surrounding villages.
David Reeves, managing director of D&G Bus, said: “As part of our bid for the one1ink service we had to provide four new buses but took the opportunity to add a further two in order to upgrade our existing fleet. We chose the Optare Solo SR because of its stylish appearance and passenger appeal and because of the good experience we have had with its predecessor model, which accounts for over half of our now 52 strong Crewe based fleet.”
All six Solo SRs are the 9.7 metre model with a seating capacity of 31 on fixed Esteban Civic V3 seats plus four tip-ups in the wheelchair bay. Up to 21 standees can be carried to give the buses a total capacity of well over 50 to adequately meet anticipated peak demand on the new service.
Power is from the Euro 5 compliant Mercedes-Benz OM904LA engine delivering 154 bhp (115 kW) and which is renowned for its fuel efficiency and low emissions. This is matched to an Allison five-speed automatic transmission with a torque converter that also adds to fuel economy.
“This fits well with our aims of minimising the environmental impact of our operations,” says David Reeves. “We adhere to the GreenRoad principles and I’m very proud that three of our Crewe based drivers were recently awarded membership of the GreenRoad Fleet Elite™ programme in recognition of their contribution to safety and reduced C02 emissions.”
Optare sales director, John Horn, adds: “All of our products have impeccable green credentials that include class-leading fuel performance, which of course means lower emissions. The fitment as standard of our EcoDrive dashboard also helps drivers to monitor their performance and achieve improvements that both add to better fuel efficiency and improve passenger comfort and safety. I’m delighted that these features are exactly aligned with the aims of D&G Bus.”
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Following its successful debut on the Walmer Estate/Salt River route, Cape Town’s MyCiTi operation has now introduced nine-metre Optare Solo SR buses on its F14 Table View feeder service, connecting the busy residential areas of East Parklands, Blaauwberg and Big Bay with the trunk route to Cape Town at Table View Station.
The innovative Solo SRs incorporate doors on both sides for rapid boarding and alighting and to allow the vehicles to use purpose built passenger terminals and standard bus stops. They collect commuters from the suburbs and take them to Table View station where they transfer to 12 or 18 metre buses for high speed transport to the city.
As demand grows on the trunk route from Table View to Cape Town Civic Centre, MyCiTi is increasing the frequency of departures. The deployment of the Optare Solo SRs liberates more of the bigger buses for trunk route duty. It is also operationally economical where volumes don’t warrant the use of a big bus.
The East Parklands to Blaauwberg service embraces high population density suburbs and the beaches and restaurants of Blaauwberg which are popular with tourists.
The medium-sized Solo is operationally ideal for this feeder operation with a high percentage of boarding and alighting at street level where its low-floor and boarding ramps offer easy access. This is an important consideration for the off-peak passenger mix which includes shoppers, mothers with pushchairs, the elderly and visitors with luggage.
This marks the beginning of the change-over of buses in the area, with other suburban routes in the Table View district scheduled to be converted to the new medium-sized Optare Solo SRs, thereby freeing up more big buses for other already planned new routes.
“These exciting developments are helping us deliver an increasingly efficient and inter-connected system, with a greater number of routes coming into effect later this year,” said Councillor Brett Herron, Mayoral Committee Member for Transport, Roads and Stormwater.
Feeder services are a key component of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) network being introduced by Cape Town City Council as part of a world-class Integrated Rapid Transit (IRT) system combining all modes of public transport. The success of MyCiTi has already been noted by other metropolitan areas both in South Africa and overseas.
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North Yorkshire independent Abbotts of Leeming has taken delivery of a pair of Optare Solo SR midibuses to use on a new tendered contract with the County Council.
The buses are being used on a six day a week service connecting Northallerton with Stokesley 15 miles to the North East and on the edge of the North York Moors National Park.
The 9.7 metre Solos are the SlimLine model, which at only 2.3 metres wide is ideally suited to the narrow country roads which make up much of the route. Passenger capacity is 34 on fixed Rescroft CT Lite seats plus two tip-ups in the wheelchair space located directly behind the driver’s compartment and easily accessed using the manual fold-out wheelchair ramp.
Clifford Abbott, owner of the 70 year old family firm, says: “We already run a number of Optare Solos and find the model to be reliable and good on fuel. Early feedback from our passengers shows that these new buses are proving popular with them and our drivers find them easy to handle too, especially on country roads, where the narrower width is helpful.”
Abbotts have chosen the 6.7 litre six-cylinder Cummins ISBe engine to power their new Solos. This delivers 201 bhp (150 kW) at 2500 rpm which is ample power to make light work of the hilly terrain in the area. The engine meets Euro 5 emission standards through the use of SCR technology and AdBlue as a re-agent. Torque is 750 Nm at 1500 rpm.
The transmission is the Allison 2100 Series fully automatic five speed featuring a lock-up torque converter for improved fuel efficiency. An electro-magnetic retarder is also fitted and operates automatically through the brake pedal to assist smoother retardation, reduce power consumption and also add to better fuel returns.
Optare Sales Director, John Horn, says: “We’re delighted to be again supplying Solos to such a highly regarded independent operator as Abbotts of Leeming. This time it’s our stylish SR model and the specification they have chosen, with the Cummins engine, demonstrates our flexibility in meeting the different requirements of our customers.”
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An Optare Solo midibus now in service on the Isle of Mull is following one of the most scenic bus routes in Scotland, and one of the most Westerly.
Bowman’s Coaches (Mull) Limited has put the 9.0 metre SlimLine Solo into service on its 494 service connecting Tobermory in the north east corner of the Isle with Calgary on the west coast.
It’s a route that affords passengers sightings of red deer, eagles and seals and which ends with fabulous views of the Atlantic across Calgary Bay towards the islands of Tiree and Coll.
The company chose the SlimLine Solo at 2.3 metres in width to cope better with the narrow and twisting single track road that makes up the eight mile route. Its capacity to carry 31 passengers on fixed Ster 6MS seats plus two tip-ups in the wheelchair space means that it can cope well with seasonal fluctations in passenger numbers. And its low entry height and large expanse of flat floor in the forward part of the saloon make it easy to use by passengers with reduced mobility.
A Euro 5 compliant Mercedes-Benz OM904LA engine provides 154 bhp (115 kW) and 610 Nm of torque to cope with the hilly terrain. The five-speed automatic transmission from the Allison 2100 Series has a lock-up torque converter for improved fuel economy, which is also enhanced by the electro-magnetic retarder actuated automatically during braking.
Bowman’s has specified Mobitec LED destination equipment to the front and nearside.
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Cape Town’s first easy access bus – the Optare Solo SR – has been welcomed by residents living on the MyCiTi route from Civic Centre to Walmer Estate and Salt River which started operation this month. Joining residents and students at the Cape Peninsula University in using the buses are previously excluded groups such as the blind and mobility impaired.
The route provides residents with connections to the Cape Town and Salt River railheads as well as the City and other MyCiTi routes from Civic Centre station. It created an operating challenge as the historic District Six, Walmer Estate and Woodstock suburbs are situated on the slopes of Table Mountain. They are characterised by twisting, narrow, congested streets with steep inclines and sharp corners. A conventional bus chassis could not cope with these demands.
The UK-manufactured but South African assembled Optare Solo SR provides the necessary manoeuvrability because of its minimal front overhang, low floor and nine metre length. Despite its compact size the vehicle accommodates 50 passengers, 25 seated. It is powered by a rear-mounted Cummins diesel engine which meets Euro 5 emissions targets and is highly compatible with the Allison automatic transmission fitted for its suitability for stop-start operations and smooth gear changes.
The low-floor Optare vehicles have boarding ramps and no steps so boarding and alighting is at pavement level. This plus same-level docking at MyCiTi stations offers ease of access and seamless transfer for all, including the elderly, wheelchair users and mothers with prams.
Jeremy Opperman, who is blind, spoke on behalf of many with disabilities: “The tactile paving helps us find our way and audio signals alert us when the bus doors open. The new service lets me get to town, the waterfront and the airport independently.”
“To guarantee success, we worked closely with the operating companies and released 20 vehicles early for driver training,” said Malcolm Wilken, General Manager, Western Cape of Busmark 2000. The company is assembling over 200 Optare Solo vehicles at its Elsies River factory, creating 150 new jobs in the process. The order from Cape Town, together with the partnership with Busmark 2000, is British bus maker Optare’s largest ever export order. Significant potential for future such orders exists both in Cape Town and in other South African cities which are studying the new buses closely.
“It is clear that there is a real need and appetite for a good, reliable public transport service in these areas, and that MyCiTi has all that it takes to fulfil this need.” said Cape Town Councillor Brett Herron, Mayoral Committee Member for Transport, Roads and Stormwater.
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Britain’s Award-winning designer and manufacturer of advanced low-floor buses, Optare plc which is also Europe’s largest maker of hybrid-powered and pure electric full size buses, is targeting the German market. The company, 75% owned by Ashok Leyland, a global top five bus maker, is actively encouraging approaches from reputable and established agents in Germany to both sell and service its products.
Optare opened Europe’s most modern bus assembly facility in the north east of England during 2011 and in 2012 built more than 500 vehicles, all of its own integral design, as well as 220 CKD kits of components used to build a special version of its core Solo SR midi bus in South Africa for the City of Cape Town.
The Solo SR, together with the larger Versa, MetroCity and Tempo single deck models, features a unique demountable power pack module at the rear which can accommodate conventional diesel engines (Optare uses mostly Mercedes Benz engines and Cummins), diesel-electric hybrid powertrains and pure electric, battery powered units.
The pure electric Versa model, complete with an innovative fast charging system, was awarded the prestigious Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders Innovation Award at the end of 2012. Three Versas in daily service in the English city of Coventry can be full re-charged in less than two hours giving a range of over 120 km in demanding city driving conditions. They, and Optare EV models in several other British cities, have been fully proven in day-to-day operation.
Over 150 hybrid buses and over 20 EV’s are in operation around the UK and an additional 19 EVs will be in production in April.
“We believe that the advanced technology we have developed – ultra low floors, stylish appearance, ‘green’ power sources and, vitally, very low weight – will prove of real interest to hard-pressed operators in Germany”, says Charles Waggott, Optare’s Export Sales Director. “Although we have sold small numbers of our vehicles in Europe – in Northern Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and Denmark, for example – the strong financial muscle of our new parent company Ashok Leyland will give new customers the confidence to do business with us.
“We are adept at delivering buses to the highest quality is varying fleet sizes – no order is too large or too small for our new flexible assembly system and we can closely tailor the specification to meet operator requirements. Because our vehicles are integrated designs – there is no separate chassis – we can reduce weight dramatically. Typically our full size single deckers are up to a tonne lighter than competitive models. This means we can deliver class leading levels of fuel economy and emissions performance and our hybrid and electric buses start with an in- built advantage”, said Mr Waggott.
In 2013 Optare will be displaying its product range at the international Busworld fair in Belgium in October. Before then it hopes to have established a sales and service network in Europe’s largest market for buses – Germany. In 2014 it expects to unveil an all new double-deck model which – like the single deck range – will be designed from scratch for left hand drive configurations.
Established bus support business interested in the Optare franchise are encouraged to contact Charles Waggott at charles.waggott@optare.com.
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