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 (8 in) 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 (25 ft 7 in), 8.5 m (27 ft 11 in), 9.2 m (30 ft 2 in) and 9.9 m (32 ft 6 in) - all 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) wide. 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 (1 ft). This is reflected in the chassis code, so a Cummins-powered Solo was coded M810, M880, M950 or M1020.
Along with the launch of the 9.9 m (32 ft 6 in) model, the Solo was also first offered with LED-type rear lights, as opposed to the standard rectangular clusters. Seating capacities range from 25 for an M780, 29 for an M850, 33 for M920 and 37 for an M990.
A narrow-bodied version named the "Slimline" was launched in 2004 with the first examples entering service in August. It is 2.33 m (7 ft 8 in) wide, and identifiable by small wheelarch extensions mounted to the rear. Available across all lengths except the M990, the Slimline is identified by having an SL-suffix in the chassis code, e.g. M780SL for a 7.8 m (25 ft 7 in) long version. The Optare Solo Slimline is a 25-seated low-floor bus to replace the Optare MetroRider.
The compact size of an M780SL, with its seating capacity of 25, has made it a popular choice for replacing earlier-generation minibuses, such as the MCW Metrorider, and other van-based buses.
In June 2006, Optare announced the arrival of another Solo model - the Solo SE. At just 7.1 m (23 ft 4 in) in length, it is the shortest Solo offered, and is capable of seating 23. It also uses a single-piece entrance door as an option. This is a variant of the Slimline - hence it is 2.33 m (7 ft 8 in) wide, but noticeably the rear track has been reduced compared to previous Slimline models, eliminating the need for wheelarch extensions on the rear of the bus. Optare also plans to produce a 7.8 m (25 ft 7 in) long version of the SE.
The first SE built, the former Optare demonstrator, entered service with Regal Busways, of Essex, in September 2006. The company has since acquired a further four examples.
In March 2009, Optare launched the all-electric version of the Solo, the Solo EV. The vehicle's top speed is limited to 90 km/h (56 mph). Since the summer of 2013, the vehicle uses a high-efficiency MAGTEC P180 Permanent Magnet Motor-Gearbox rated at 150 kW and powered by two banks of Valence Lithium-ion phosphate batteries. The two packs work in parallel and provide 307 V with a total capacity of 92 kWh.
In October 2007 Optare unveiled the Solo SR at the Coach and Bus Show. It is a completely-restyled version of the Solo drawing styling features from the Versa, such as the curved side windows and sweeping roof (with the destination screen and air conditioning unit underneath). Some features of the Solo such as the curved front windscreen and the unusual chassis layout, with the front wheels ahead of the doorway, were retained. Another new unusual feature to the Solo SR is the lack of a destination box on the standard model. However, Optare offers this as an option to individual customer specification.
In January 2012, Optare announced that the facelifted Solo SR would replace the standard Solo, with the standard design being withdrawn from sale.
In November 2008 the 'new' Optare unveiled the Solo+ - a completely restyled variant to celebrate ten years of the Solo as a new low-entry bus and was launched at the Euro Bus Expo 2008. It shared the same styling with the Rapta, which was launched at the same show. It sees the return of the flat side windows and roof as well as a steeper front end with an integral destination box. Proposed options include a full electric drive.
However, the plan of producing the Solo+ was dropped afterwards. The new product met with a poor market response and never made it beyond the prototype stage. The further development required to make the product an improvement on previous models was possibly deemed to be too great (and costly), the plans being shelved.
The 2012 Solo SR was introduced in 2012 with the original Solo design retired. It is available in 7.1 m, 7.8 m, 8.9 m and 9.6 m variants, all available in the Slimline (2.35 m wide) version. 8.9 m and 9.6 m models are available in the wider 2.5 m body width. All 2012 Solo SRs feature curved side glazing and high specification interiors allowing up to 37 seats in the longest derivative.
Some of the bodywork components had been redesigned to take advantage of the benefits achieved on the recently released Tempo SR design which reduced both weight and cost and further improve fuel economy.
The diesel-electric hybrid single-decker bus with room for 53 passengers; its configuration can be changed to provide seating for up to 34 passengers plus one wheelchair with additional standing room. Its peak power demands are met by batteries that are recharged on-board by the diesel generator.
The first Optare Solos entered service in 1998 with Wilts and Dorset. Arriva, FirstGroup, Go-Ahead Group, Stagecoach Group, Wellglade Group and Travel West Midlands all have all operated large fleets. It has been operated by Transport for London operators Arriva London, Quality Line, Metrobus and Travel London. A fleet of over 30 operated by LibertyBus is in use in Jersey. Optare Solos are operated in Northern Ireland by Translink Ulsterbus and in the Republic of Ireland by Bus Éireann.
Netherlands operator Syntus purchased 25 Solos in 2010. In 2015, Solo EVs were delivered to Karlstad in Sweden. In Hungary, Kapos Volán bought one, which is operating in Siófok.
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