The Optare Alero is a
low-floor
Accessibility is the design of products, devices, services, vehicles, or environments so as to be usable by people with disabilities. The concept of accessible design and practice of accessible development ensures both "direct access" (i.e ...
GRP monocoque
minibus
A minibus, microbus, minicoach, or commuter (in Zimbabwe) is a passenger-carrying motor vehicle that is designed to carry more people than a multi-purpose vehicle or minivan, but fewer people than a full-size bus. In the United Kingdom, ...
that was built by
Optare
Switch Mobility (originally called Optare) is an English bus manufacturer based in Sherburn-in-Elmet, North Yorkshire. It is a subsidiary of Indian company Ashok Leyland. The company would be responsible for the EV operations of the group with ...
between 2001 and 2008. It was built as an alternative to
van-derived buses such as the
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter
The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is a light commercial vehicle ( van) built by Mercedes-Benz Group AG of Stuttgart, Germany as a large van, chassis cab, minibus, and pickup truck. In the past, the Sprinter had been sold under the Mercedes-Benz, Dodge ...
.
Around 300 were built in the first five years of production. The primary markets for the Alero have been community transport groups and rural demand responsive bus routes.
Features
The Alero has a 2.8 litre Iveco turbo diesel engine and a choice of 6 speed manual or automatic
ZF transmission. It typically seats between twelve and sixteen passengers, capacity being partly dependent upon whether space is provided for a wheelchair. The destination display box is optional.
Alero Plus
The Alero was relaunched in 2006 as the Alero Plus. The previous torquey and economical 2.8 litre turbo diesel Iveco (from the Daily II range) engine was replaced by the higher-revving 3 litre later Iveco (Daily III) engine with chain-driven cam. The Alero plus had its main battery in the boot, overcoming the nightmare under-bonnet battery access in the original Alero. Various changes and component upgrades have been made in an attempt to overcome reliability and durability issues suffered by the original design.
Optare launches upgraded Alero 'Plus'
''Bus & Coach Professional'' 1 June 2006 In 2008, the Alero was discontinued after the production run of around 300 units.
Gallery
File:Optare Alero YN04XZH -1- WREXHAM BS.JPG, Arriva North West and Wales Optare Alero in Wrexham
Wrexham ( ; cy, Wrecsam; ) is a city and the administrative centre of Wrexham County Borough in Wales. It is located between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley, near the border with Cheshire in England. Historically in the county ...
in April 2008
File:Optare Alero YP52JWN -1- MOLD.JPG, GHA Coaches
GHA Coaches was a bus and coach operator serving North East Wales, Cheshire, and Shropshire. It also operated bus services extending into Telford & Wrekin, Staffordshire, Gwynedd, and Merseyside.
GHA Coaches ceased trading after entering ...
Optare Alero in Mold
A mold () or mould () is one of the structures certain fungus, fungi can form. The dust-like, colored appearance of molds is due to the formation of Spore#Fungi, spores containing Secondary metabolite#Fungal secondary metabolites, fungal seco ...
in October 2009
File:Wightbus 5898 HW04 DDJ rear.JPG, Wightbus Optare Alero rear in Ryde
Ryde is an English seaside town and civil parish on the north-east coast of the Isle of Wight. The built-up area had a population of 23,999 according to the 2011 Census and an estimate of 24,847 in 2019. Its growth as a seaside resort came af ...
in August 2010
File:Dornoch.jpg, Motorhome converted Alero in Dornoch on the NC500, Summer 2019
References
* Millar, Alan (2007) ''Bus & Coach Recognition'' : Ian Allan Ltd.,
External links
Product description in Optare website (Web Archive 2007/12/24)
Bus and Coach Buyer Issue 990 Page 11
{{Optare timeline
Alero
Low-floor buses
Minibuses
Vehicles introduced in 2001