Optare Solo SR
| Optare Solo & Optare Solo SR | |
|---|---|
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Arriva North West Optare Solo interior
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| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Optare |
| Production | 1998–2012 (Solo) 2012–present (Solo SR) |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class |
Minibus Midibus |
| Body style | Single-decker bus |
| Doors | 1 door or 2 doors |
| Floor type | Low entry |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine |
Cummins MAN Mercedes-Benz |
| Capacity | 23-37 seated |
| Transmission |
Allison Siemens (hybrid electric) Enova Systems (fully electric) |
| Dimensions | |
| Length | 7.10-10.20 metres |
| Width | 2.33-2.55 metres |
| Height | 2.73 metres |
The Optare Solo is a low-floor minibus/midibus with 1 or 2 doors manufactured by Optare in the United Kingdom since 1998. The Solo name is a play on its low-floor status, the manufacturer marketing its vehicle as having an entrance that is "so low" from the floor, namely 200 mm with kneeling suspension. In January 2012 Optare announced the end of production for the original Solo design with a modified Solo SR taking over.
The original innovative design, featuring a front axle ahead of the entrance door, gained a Millennium product award, along with a Queen's Award for Enterprise. 3,857 original model Solos were built between 1998 and 2012. As of April 2017, almost 1,500 Solo SRs have been built.
The Solo is an integral midibus (as opposed to a separate chassis and body) built in a modular design, with steel frame and GRP panels. It is powered by a Mercedes-Benz OM904LA engine, which produces 122 bhp (91 kW) or 147 bhp (110 kW) according to specification, and it is typically mated to an Allison 2000 automatic gearbox. Later, the options of a Cummins ISBe 6-cylinder 185 bhp (138 kW) engine or a MAN engine became available. There was also the option of a 4-speed Allison AT545 gearbox. In 2005 a hybrid Solo was constructed, using a small diesel unit and an Eneco (now known as Traction Technology) battery propulsion unit.
The Optare Solo is available in various lengths: 7.8 m, 8.5 m, 9.2 m, and 9.9 m, all at 2.5 m width. The chassis type code of the Solo denotes the length - M780 corresponds to 7.8 m, M850 to 8.5 m, and so forth. However, the Cummins-powered Solos required extra rear bodywork in order to accommodate the larger engine, which increased the overall length by 0.3 m. This IS reflected in the chassis code, so a Cummins-powered Solo was coded M810, M880, M950 or M1020.
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Wikipedia