Optare, a subsidiary of Ashok Leyland, has been named OEM of The Year (Bus/Commercial Vehicle) at the 2020 EVIEs Awards. The Electric Vehicle Innovation & Excellence Awards-win was in recognition of the company’s Metrodecker EV, which has entered service with First York and in London with Metroline.
The Metrodecker EV is the latest battery-electric bus from Optare following the success of its Versa EV, which entered service on the York park-and-ride in 2014. It is also the first vehicle to enter service with First UK Bus since it announced a pledge to achieve a zero-emission fleet by 2035.
Virpin Sondhi, Ashok Leyland MD and CEO, said, “Optare continues to do some ground-breaking work and recognition like this motivates us to do even better. Being acknowledged as the best in a highly competitive market is another milestone in our journey.”
The company stated that Optare will continue to work towards developing technologies and innovations that help provide sustainable solutions that make public transport cleaner and cities less polluted.
The First York Metrodecker EVs can carry 98 passengers at full capacity and provide a range in excess of 160 miles. The also feature audio-visual next stop announcements that aid sight- and hearing-impaired passengers, Wi-Fi and USB charging points.
