Optima Awarded First Contract for ISE Series Hybrid Low-floor Bus

16 May 2006

The Optima Opus Series-Hybrid

Optima Bus Corporation has been awarded the first contract for its Opus ISE Series Hybrid Low-floor Bus. The contract, from Town of Avon (CO) Transit, is valued at approximately $7.5 million.

Avon Transit has ordered five Opus diesel-electric series-hybrid buses with an option for an additional ten. The hybrid-electric Opus will be the first hybrid transit vehicle that the resort town has operated.

Avon wants to be a leader in protecting the environment and lowering our dependence on fossil fuels. The series system has a significant weight savings and the maintenance costs will be lower.

—Dan Higgins, Fleet Manager for the Town of Avon

The Opus Hybrid brings the ISE-Siemens series-hybrid powertrain to the under 35' and 30' class of buses, and is projected to reduce fuel consumption (and associated emissions) by up to 50%, depending upon the route and driving patterns.

The diesel hybrid system combines a Siemens ELFA electric drive system with a 6-cylinder, 5.9-liter Cummins ISB 260 hp (194 kW) engine, integrated and controlled by the ISE ThunderCan hybrid control system. Storage is provided by dual ISE/Maxwell ultracapacitor packs. Dual 85 kW electric drive motors provide 200 Nm of rated torque each.

The ISE ThunderVolt diesel hybrid system has been certified at 1.8g/hp-hr NOx, 0.01g PM, and 15.5g CO, making it the lowest emission diesel drive system of any type for 30-, 40- and 60-foot buses, according to Optima.