Optare leads the way - Low Carbon Buses

Earlier today, Optare showed the prime minister, Gordon Brown its Solo EV, which the firm says is the UK's first practical electric bus. This follows today's announcement of £30m from the Government to encourage the use of low carbon buses. "This is precisely the shot in the arm the bus industry needs to switch to low carbon buses," said Jim Sumner, CEO at Optare. He told the prime minister that the Solo EV is the first practical, fully electric and thus emission free bus available in Britain "and it can be ordered today and be on the streets very soon". Sumner said Optare is developing a range of advanced technology low carbon buses but none will beat the Solo EV for emissions performance.