Optare wins £13m green buses contract
OPTARE, the Lancashire-based bus maker, has won a £13m contract for a fleet of 66 hybrid buses for Greater Manchester.
The Darwen-based company has scooped the entire order from Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Authority. Shares in the AIM-listed company rocketed 27% to 5.25p on the news.
It is the largest single order for hybrid buses so far to be placed under the the Government’s Green Bus Fund, which), which encourages low emission bus use.
GMITA has secured more than £3m from the fund and £1.3m from other sources to assist in the purchase of the buses.
The GMITA fleet will be made up of Optare Solo, Solo SR, Versa and Tempo models all featuring not only a diesel-electric hybrid system but Optare’s Eco Drive system, which encourages optimal driver behaviour.
The buses will also feature the latest telematics technology which combines a passenger counting device, real time information, CCTV and vehicle diagnostics into a single integrated system.
Optare chief executive Jim Sumner said: “”This order emphasises our significant lead in the design and production of low and zero emission buses.
“As well as our unique Eco Drive range of hybrids, Optare remains the only manufacturer to offer a fully electric-drive model, the Solo EV, as well as the only manufacturer of dual-fuel bio-methane 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.
“This order endorses that view and we anticipate being able to announce further orders for low carbon bus models in the near future, both from UK and export markets.”
