Optare anticipates that the recent announcement by the Department for Transport of successful bidders for support for low carbon buses under Green Bus Fund Round 4 will lead to a significant number of orders for the Yorkshire bus maker.

The company’s Deputy Chief Executive Glenn Saint says that he welcomes the news that the government is making £11.6 million pounds available to support the introduction of a further 213 hybrid and all-electric buses into operation throughout England.

“In a statement from the Department of Transport, Optare is named as one of the manufacturers that will benefit from this latest round of the Fund,” he says. “And the list of successful councils and operating companies published by the DfT suggests that we are likely to secure substantial orders, particularly as we are now the UK’s leading manufacturer of both all-electric buses and single-deck diesel-electric hybrids.

“Following the DfT announcement, the City of York Council has already announced that it is to introduce a fleet of nine Optare all-electric buses into service with support from the Green Bus Fund. These will be operated by the City of York, First York Limited, and Blazefield subsidiary Yorkshire Coastliner Limited on local Park & Ride, university and new housing development services.

“The Green Bus Fund initiative is giving a major boost to the introduction of all-electric and diesel-electric hybrid buses into service in England and Optare is leading the way in their development,” adds Mr Saint.