Optare Excel

Launched in October 1995, the Optare Excel was the manufacturer's first full-size low-floor city bus, built with aluminium and fibreglass panels over a steel frame as opposed to previous Optare products using the Alusuisse system, and featured distinctive Capoco Design styling. Most notably, early Excels included a simple flat panel with embossed Optare lettering set between two pairs of twin headlamps, which was situated below a very large one-piece curved windscreen. Power came from a Cummins 6BT 6-cylinder turbo-diesel engine capable of producing {{convert|160|bhp}}, which was mated with a Allison 'World Series' B300R automatic transmission.{{cite magazine |last=Williams |first=Mark |url=https://archive.org/details/cbw-issue189/page/n11/mode/2up |date=14 October 1995 |title=Orders come in for Optare's first integral lowfloor citybus |magazine=Coach & Bus Week |issue=189 |pages=12–13 |location=Peterborough |publisher=Emap |access-date=17 November 2024}}

The Excel featured a {{convert|320|mm}} low step at the entrance door, capable of being lowered to {{convert|240|mm}} at the kerbside via the 'kneeling' function of the integrally-built chassis, and the Excel's interior featured a fully-flat floor up to the rear axle, where two steps led to raised rear seats. Built to {{convert|9.6|m}}, {{convert|10|m}}, {{convert|10.7|m}}, {{convert|11.5|m}} and {{convert|11.8|m}} lengths, passenger-carrying capacity ranged from between 36 seated and 16 standing to 48 seated and 22 standing.

File:Optare Excel 35001, Claycross.jpg Optare Excel 2 in Clay Cross in March 2009]]

The Excel was updated in 1999, with the front similar to that of the Optare Solo and with round headlights, two less rear lights, and a repositioned fuel-filler cap. A Mercedes-Benz OM906LA engine was also made available as an option alongside the standard Cummins 6BT.{{citation needed|date=November 2024}}

This updated Excel was known as the Excel 2, which replaced the Delta which by then had finished production. The original Excel was still sold alongside the Excel 2 until it was discontinued by Optare in late 2000. Excel 2s were only built in {{convert|10.7|m|abbr=on}}, {{convert|11.5|m|abbr=on}} and {{convert|11.8|m|abbr=on}} configurations.

The Excel 2 was itself replaced by the Optare Tempo upon its launch in October 2004.

File:Trent Barton bus 207 (V207ENU), 29 December 2004 (cropped).jpg Skyline branded Optare Excel in Stockport in December 2004]]

The first eight production Excels began to be delivered to Blackpool Transport in May 1996,{{cite magazine |last=Morgan |first=Mike |url=https://archive.org/details/cbw-issue216/page/n10/mode/1up |date=4 May 1996 |title=Going low-floor beside the sea |magazine=Coach & Bus Week |issue=216 |page=11 |location=Peterborough |publisher=Emap |access-date=17 November 2024}} with orders following from Nottingham City Transport and Reading Buses.{{cite magazine |title=First Excels for Nottingham |date=25 October 1996 |magazine=Bus & Coach Buyer |issue=281 |page=4 |location=Spalding |publisher=Glen-Holland Limited}}{{cite magazine |last=Jones|first=Stuart |title=Excel - Optare's low floor takes to the road |date=3 May 1996 |magazine=Bus & Coach Buyer |issue=356 |pages=9–13 |location=Spalding |publisher=Glen-Holland Limited}} Trent Buses were the overall largest operator of Excels and Excel 2s, ordering a total of 112 of the type from 1998 to 2001.{{cite book |last=Jenkinson |first=Keith A. |date=15 August 2020 |title=The History of Optare |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DFf9DwAAQBAJ |location=Stroud |publisher=Amberley Publishing |page=|isbn=978-1-4456-9695-9 |access-date=27 December 2021}}{{better source needed|date=November 2024}}{{cite magazine |author= |title=Trent dual sourcing |date=13 April 1996 |magazine=Coach & Bus Week |issue=213 |page=4 |location=Peterborough |publisher=Emap}}

Another major operator of Excels were Reading Buses, who after taking delivery of their first seven in 1997, purchased a further 45 Excels and Excel 2s between 1997 and 2002. Thirty-five Excels were also delivered to Travel West Midlands for use in Wolverhampton in early 1999,{{cite magazine |last=Jarosz |first=Andrew |url=https://archive.org/details/coach-bus-week-8-january-1998-issue-302/page/4/mode/2up |date=8 January 1998 |title=TWM orders 100 more lowfloors |magazine=Coach & Bus Week |issue=302 |pages=4–5 |location=Peterborough |publisher=Emap |access-date=17 November 2024 |quote=The company will also be purchasing its first Optare Excels for Black Country operations, with an initial 35 being introduced into Wolverhampton, where they will replace some double deckers.}} while East Yorkshire Motor Services purchased a total of 24 Excels between 1996 and 1999 for services in Kingston upon Hull and Scarborough.{{cite magazine |last=Jones |first=Stuart |url=https://archive.org/details/buscoachbuyer-issue390/page/13/mode/1up |date=3 January 1997 |title=Excels for East Yorkshire |magazine=Bus & Coach Buyer |issue=390 |page=13 |location=Spalding |publisher=Glen-Holland Ltd |access-date=17 November 2024}}{{cite magazine |last=Jarosz |first=Andrew |url=https://archive.org/details/cbw-issue299/page/8/mode/1up |date=11 December 1997 |title=EYMS backs Yorkshire to tune of £2m |magazine=Coach & Bus Week |issue=299 |page=8 |location=Peterborough |publisher=Emap |access-date=17 November 2024}}

Sixteen Excel 2s were purchased by the Stagecoach Group in 2001 for operation in Worksop with their East Midlands subsidiary,{{cite magazine | author= |title=Stagecoach orders Optare buses |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=73ZUAAAAMAAJ |magazine=Mass Transit |issue=27 |page=56 |location=University of Michigan |publisher=PTN Publishing Company |date=2001 |access-date=26 December 2021}} Fifteen Excels were delivered to Cardiff Bus between October and November 1997,{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/cbw-issue294/page/29/mode/1up |date=6 November 1997 |title=Excel represents quality |magazine=Coach & Bus Week |issue=294 |page=29 |location=Peterborough |publisher=Emap |access-date=17 November 2024}} ten were delivered to First Leicester in 1997,{{cite magazine |last=Cole |first=Martin |url=https://archive.org/details/buscoachbuyer-issue422/page/18/mode/2up |title=Public reaction to the new FirstBus standard |date=15 August 1997 |magazine=Bus & Coach Buyer |issue=422 |pages=18–19 |location=Spalding |publisher=Glen-Holland Limited |access-date=17 November 2024}} while Go North East also purchased numerous examples.{{cite book|last=Lyons|first=Mark|title=The Go-Ahead Group: The First 25 Years |chapter=Go-Ahead Northern becomes Go-Ahead Group |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2_1zEAAAQBAJ |access-date=17 November 2024 |date=30 June 2022|location=Stamford |publisher=Key Publishing|isbn=978-1-80282-082-9|page=19}}

In London, Metrobus took delivery of ten Excels during 1996.{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/buscoachbuyer-issue345/page/9/mode/1up |title=Metrobus lowfloor Excels in 1996 vehicle orders |date=16 February 1996 |magazine=Bus & Coach Buyer |issue=345 |page=9 |location=Spalding |publisher=Glen-Holland Limited |access-date=17 November 2024}} with London United also purchasing six Excels in 1997, initially branded for use on route 371.{{cite book |last=Beddall |first=David |date=15 November 2020 |title=London's Low-floor Buses |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=n1wuEAAAQBAJ |location=Stroud |publisher=Amberley Publishing |page=|isbn=978-1-3981-0120-3|access-date=27 December 2021}}{{Page needed|reason=eBook does not list page numbers. |date=December 2021}} Other London operators included Travel London and Thorpes, the latter purchasing four Excels for operation on the wheelchair-friendly Stationlink service, while smaller operators included Springfield Coaches of Wigan, who took delivery of three for use on Greater Manchester PTE-contracted 'Easylink' service 603, running between Billinge Higher End and Platt Bridge, in 1997,{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/cbw-issue278/page/5/mode/1up |date=19 July 1997 |title=Access contract is won by Springfield |magazine=Coach & Bus Week |issue=278 |page=5 |location=Peterborough |publisher=Emap |access-date=17 November 2024}} and Swanbrook Transport, who took delivery of three between October 1997 and February 1998 for use on the 'Cheltenham Flyer' park and ride service.{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/cbw-issue294/page/5/mode/1up |date=6 November 1997 |title=Swanbrook's park and ride |magazine=Coach & Bus Week |issue=294 |page=5 |location=Peterborough |publisher=Emap |access-date=17 November 2024}}

File:NABI-Optare 700 SE.jpg 700SE right-hand drive Excel 2 in Hungary]]

Optare also built a small export market for the Excel in both Malta and Hungary. A single {{convert|10.6|m}} Excel was exported to Malta for use by the Supreme Travel Company as a low-floor demonstrator, with features for the Maltese bus market including the removal of the internal heating system, larger sliding windows, an uprated Cummins engine producing {{convert|215|bhp}} and an overall 45-seat capacity.{{cite magazine |title=Optare in Maltese joint venture |date=27 September 1996 |magazine=Bus & Coach Buyer |issue=377 |page=4 |location=Spalding |publisher=Glen-Holland Limited}}{{cite magazine |last=Jones|first=Stuart |title=UK built low floor buses for overseas markets |date=7 March 1997 |magazine=Bus & Coach Buyer |issue=399 |page=17 |location=Spalding |publisher=Glen-Holland Limited}}

In 2002, the Optare Excel 2 was rebadged by NABI, Optare's parent company at the time, and launched as the NABI 700SE for the Hungarian market. The NABI 700SE was built to right-hand drive step-entrance configuration, with options for either two or three entrance and exit doors, and capable of carrying up to 85 passengers. The first four 700SEs entered service in Kaposvar with the Kaposvar Transit Company in August 2002.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.cbwnet.co.uk/editorial/psvnews.asp?s=ed&ss=psvn&article_id=4793 |date=20 June 2002 |title=Excel goes to Budapest |magazine=Coach & Bus Week |issue=530 |page= |location=Peterborough |publisher=Emap |access-date=14 July 2024 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020918075817/http://www.cbwnet.co.uk/editorial/psvnews.asp?s=ed&ss=psvn&article_id=4793 |archive-date=18 September 2002}}

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Category:Low-floor buses

Category:Midibuses

Excel

Category:Vehicles introduced in 1996