As the Los Angeles Auto Show looms on the horizon, we should not overlook smaller events like the Euro Bus Expo to find the latest in green transportation. UK-based Optare PLC was one of the featured presenters at the event held in Birmingham from November 4th through November 6th. Optare PLC is burnishing its role as a leading producer of green buses with two new lines, the Solo and Tempo hybrid buses.
The Optare Solo runs on an ENOVA EDU 120 drive system powered by a lithium-ion battery pack. While this model is called electric in Optare’s literature, it uses fuel to power a water heater that provides power to the heating system. Transit officials will be pleased with the Solo’s fast charging capacity, cutting down on time spent at depots rather than running routes. Optare has already received several Solo hybrids with intentions to sell these buses at the beginning of 2009. The hybrid model is the next generation of Optare’s minibus line that is prominent throughout the United Kingdom.
The Optare Tempo is slated for released in spring 2009 and is considered the company’s first production hybrid. The Tempo is powered by a nickel-metal hydride battery pack and runs on an Allison EP40 parallel hybrid system. In a demonstration of the Tempo’s potential as a game changer in public transit, the company has already sold five to East London Bus which serves routes throughout the city.
The success of a company like Optare PLC in selling government officials on the viability of hybrid buses is promising for cleaner public transit elsewhere. Optare PLC is the second largest manufacturer of buses in the United Kingdom and approached the implementation of hybrid designs with an emphasis on familiarity. Rather than create a slew of unique bus designs, Optare manufactured versions of its existing lines to house hybrid drive systems. This familiarity will help public officials, drivers and passengers get comfortable with the initial costs of greener transportation.
The importance of green public transit in the 21st century will become clearer as people turn to city buses once again. We have seen a resurgence in public bus, train and commuter rail use throughout the world as energy costs fluctuate. While our British counterparts continue to green their transportation systems, we can only hope that North American manufacturers follow the lead of companies like Optare PLC as they create the next generation of buses.
