Optare secures £4m green bus deal

BUS company Optare, based in Yorkshire, has received a major order worth £4m from a local authority in the East Midlands to provide it with 20 electric buses.

The order, with Nottingham city council, helps boost the company’s reputation as a leading manufacturer of full-size, commercially viable battery-powered electric buses. It is one of the largest orders of electric buses placed in the UK and allows the local authority to lead the way in introducing the advanced technology, resulting in a quieter and emission-free service for passengers.

The authority believes it will be the largest electric vehicle bus fleet in Europe. In January, Optare secured a significant contract with transport giant Stagecoach valued at £3.3m, to supply a mix of Solo and Versa buses to be delivered this year.

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The company consolidated its operations from the former sites in Rotherham, Crossgates and Blackburn at a new 140,000 sq ft base at Sherburn-in-Elmet. It employs around 430 and has invested significantly in hybrid technology and low carbon technology via the Government’s Green Bus Fund.