Optare Excel

Optare Excel
NABI 700SE
Blackpool Transport Optare Excel in Blackpool in May 2013
Overview
ManufacturerOptare
Production1995-2004
AssemblyCross Gates, Leeds, West Yorkshire
DesignerCapoco Design
Body and chassis
Doors1 or 2
Floor typeLow floor
Step-entrance (NABI 700SE)
Powertrain
EngineCummins 6BT
Mercedes-Benz OM906LA
Capacity27-48 seated, 16-22 standing
Power output160 bhp (120 kW)
TransmissionAllison 'World Series' B300R
Dimensions
Length
  • 9.6 m (31 ft)
  • 10 m (33 ft)
  • 10.7 m (35 ft)
  • 11.5 m (38 ft)
  • 11.8 m (39 ft)
Width2.5 m (8 ft 2 in)
Height3 m (9.8 ft)
Curb weight8,560 kg (18,870 lb)
Chronology
PredecessorOptare Delta
Optare Sigma
SuccessorOptare Tempo

The Optare Excel is a single-decker bus. It has a low-floor. It was made from 1995 to 2004 by Optare.

In 1995, It replaced the step-entrance Optare Sigma.

In 2004, It was replaced by the Optare Tempo.

Excel 1

From 1995 to 2000, Optare made a single-decker bus called the Optare Excel 1, It had a low-floor.

It had different lengths, the lengths were 9.6 metres (31 ft), 10 metres (33 ft), 10.7 metres (35 ft), 11.5 metres (38 ft) and 11.8 metres (39 ft), It had 36 to 48 seats.

Excel 2

Stagecoach in Chesterfield Optare Excel 2 in Clay Cross in March 2009

From 1999 to 2004, Optare made an improved single-decker bus called the Optare Excel 2, It had a low-floor.

It had new round headlights, new rear lights and it had a Mercedes-Benz OM906LA engine as an option or a standard Cummins 6BT engine.[source?]

It had different lengths, the lengths were 10.7 m (35 ft), 11.5 m (38 ft) and 11.8 m (39 ft).

Exports

An Excel 2 was exported to Malta for use by the Supreme Travel Company as a low-floor demonstrator.

The internal heating system was removed, it had bigger sliding windows, an improved Cummins engine and it could carry up to 45 passengers.

NABI 700SE

Kapos Volán NABI 700SE in Hungary

In 2002, NABI made the same Excel 2 bus but called it the NABI 700SE, It was made as right-hand drive and it had a step-entrance. It was also made with two or three entrance and exit doors, and it could carry up to 85 passengers. It was made for the Hungarian market.

The first four 700SEs entered service in Kaposvar with the Kaposvar Transit Company in August 2002.

References

  1. ↑ Morgan, Mike (4 May 1996). "Driving is believing". Coach & Bus Week. No. 216. Peterborough: Emap. pp. 26–28. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Williams, Mark (14 October 1995). "Orders come in for Optare's first integral lowfloor citybus". Coach & Bus Week. No. 189. Peterborough: Emap. pp. 12–13. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  3. ↑ "Optare in Maltese joint venture". Bus & Coach Buyer. No. 377. Spalding: Glen-Holland Limited. 27 September 1996. p. 4.
  4. ↑ Jones, Stuart (7 March 1997). "UK built low floor buses for overseas markets". Bus & Coach Buyer. No. 399. Spalding: Glen-Holland Limited. p. 17.
  5. ↑ "Excel goes to Budapest". Coach & Bus Week. No. 530. Peterborough: Emap. 20 June 2002. Archived from the original on 18 September 2002. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  6. ↑ Zoltán, Hlács (27 January 2011). "Magyar buszok Kaposváron". totalcar.hu (in Hungarian). Retrieved 5 February 2025.

Other websites

Media related to Optare Excel at Wikimedia Commons