Electric Optare Versa

The City of York, UK got in recent weeks an additional six all-electric buses Optare Versa.

Vehicles were introduced by First, operator of the Park&Ride sites in several sites in York. First has electric buses in operation at other locations.

Optare, based in Sherburn in Elmet near York, already delivered over 80 electric buses.

"The new fleet has been made possible by Green Bus Funding (approx £566k) which was awarded to First Bus by the Department for Transport. The buses are topped up during the day using rapid chargers located at the P&R terminal which enable a range of 120 miles per day, resulting in a significant reduction in emissions along the Monks Cross P&R route."

Those rapid chargers are CHAdeMO, which Optare is using rather often in its projects.

Andrew Bradley, Sustainable Transport Manager at City of York Council said:

“Over four-million passenger journeys are made on York’s Park&Ride every year, making this one of the most used Park&Ride services in the UK. As well as reducing congestion on York’s roads, these new fully electric buses replace existing diesel buses and therefore represent a further step towards improving air quality in the city.”

Will Pearson, business manager of First in York, commented:

"First is proud to serve nearly 12m customer journeys a year in York including the successful Park&Ride service in partnership with City of York Council." “This latest investment of nearly £1m in electric vehicles demonstrates our commitment to further improving bus services in York, supporting communities, the local economy and the environment by lowering air emissions & reducing congestion." "This announcement follows the successful introduction last year of six electric vehicles on the Poppleton Park & Ride and I'm sure customers using Monks Cross will also welcome these latest high quality, zero-emission buses."

Enrico Vassallo, CEO of Optare PLC, remarked: