The Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership (LowCVP) announced the Low Carbon Champions for 2014-15 last night at a packed gala dinner held in association with Cenex in Milton Keynes. The Champions Awards celebrate achievement and innovation in low carbon road transport.   

Optare had a very successful evening, with the Optare Electric Buses gaining the accolade of Low Carbon Heavy Duty Vehicle Manufacturer of the Year and the ‘Grand Prix’ award for Outstanding Achievement in Low Carbon Transport (winner of winners) in a celebration hosted by TV personality Robert Llewellyn.  First Bus with City of York were also awarded runner up Low Carbon Vehicle Operator of the Year for their project with Optare Electric Buses in York.

Commenting on the ‘Grand Prix’ award, the judges said that this recognition was because Optare is the UK market leader in electric buses and has taken significant commercial risk in achieving this position. Optare’s buses have made an important contribution to improving air quality in UK towns and cities as well as reducing the well-to-wheel carbon footprint by over 50% in comparison with equivalent diesels.

The judges’ statement said, “Optare has a real pedigree in terms of battery innovation and has worked extremely well in building partnerships with local authorities.”

Alex Burns, Chief Executive of Millbrook, the Champions Awards headline sponsors, said, “The UK is a major force in the production of electric buses and we are pleased to present the award for this category to an outstanding organisation that is helping to cut carbon emissions and improve air quality.“

“As an organisation committed to the test, validation and engineering of low carbon transport, Millbrook is proud to present the ‘Grand Prix’ award to Optare.”

Enrico Vassallo, CEO of Optare, said, “ I am honoured to receive such prestigious awards on behalf of Optare and that we have been recognised for Outstanding Achievement in Low Carbon Transport as well as gaining the accolade of Low Carbon Heavy Duty Vehicle Manufacturer of the Year. 

Optare aspires to embrace the environment with our range of Electric and Low carbon Euro 6 vehicles.  We will be celebrating this achievement and 30 years of the Optare brand at the end of the Month at Coach and Bus Live where we will have a TFL specification MetroCity EV  Demo on display and also a Low Carbon Solo Euro 6.

But it won’t end there, Optare has plans to further develop the EV technology to improve efficiency and extend range over the next 18 months, Optare truly believes in creating sustainable transport solutions for the here and now and for the future”

The networking dinner was attended by over 380 industry representatives and low carbon transport stakeholders.