World Sustainability Day 2023: The electric buses will operate in London and will be sold under the Optare brand, presently integrated into SWITCH Mobility
SWITCH Mobility, the electric vehicle subsidiary of the Hinduja Group, announced on Wednesday that it has secured an order for 70 buses from Stagecoach, a UK-based bus and coach operator.
The order consists of 10 Metrocity 9.5-meter electric buses, which are slated for operation in London, and 60 Slimline Solo 8.5-meter buses certified under Euro 6 standards and sold under the Optare brand, which is currently part of SWITCH Mobility.
The Metrocity buses are scheduled to commence operations in early 2024, while the Solo buses are expected to hit the road during the first half of 2024. These 8.5-meter slimline buses will be custom-built to Stagecoach's specifications and offer seating for 28 passengers.
Mahesh Babu, CEO of SWITCH Mobility Ltd, noted, "Stagecoach has renewed their order for the Metrocity electric bus, following the recent delivery of 20 buses in London. Operators like Stagecoach are continuously exploring ways to reduce their environmental impact and enhance fleet efficiency. As a result, we have decided to resume production of our Solo product and assist Stagecoach in replacing a portion of their existing Solo fleet."
Sam Greer, Chief Operating Officer of Stagecoach, expressed his satisfaction with the additional 70 low-emission vehicles joining their fleet, aligning with their sustainability goals of achieving zero emissions by 2050 and transitioning to a fully electric bus fleet by 2035.