Optima Bus Opus

Optima Bus Opus
Years of manufacture	2000 to 2009
Length	30 to 35 feet
Width	99 inches
Power/Fuel	Diesel, Diesel-electric hybrid

The Optima Bus Opus is a low floor midibus. It was available in 30, 32 or 35 foot lengths with the option of one or two doors. It was introduced by Chance Coach, which later became Optima Bus and then a NABI brand in 2007. Production of the Opus was idled by NABI in 2009. It never resumed and the Optima brand was discontinued.

Design history

The Opus was designed and developed by Expotech, a Wright Group company, for Chance Coach in the United States. Only two prototypes were bodied in Northern Ireland, and the rest were built by Chance using completely knocked down (CKD) kits from Wright. The Opus, therefore, bears a strong resemblance to Wright products of the time.

The Opus utilized the Wright Aluminique™ modular bolted aluminum system. The chassis was developed by Chance and was Altoona tested to a service life of 12 years or 500,000 miles.

In early 2005, Optima worked with ISE Corporation to integrate ISE's ThunderVolt diesel-electric hybrid system into the Opus. Optima unveiled the hybrid Opus on July 15, 2005. The hybrid Opus received CARB certification on December 12, 2005.

A design called the Opus Streamlined was made available in 2006. This design has a more sloping, rounded front with headlights altered accordingly and has a length of 32 feet. The only operator of this model is Miami-Dade Transit.

Specifications

Engine

• Cummins ISB - 185 hp (standard for 30') - 225 hp (optional for 30') - 260 hp (standard for 35')
• Cummins ISB-02 - 200 hp (standard for 30') - 245 hp (optional for 30') - 275 hp (standard for 35')

Transmission

• Allison 2000 Series with Telma retarder (initially standard for 30')
• Allison B210 Series with Telma retarder (standard for 30')
• Allison B300R (optional for 30', standard for 35')
• Voith D854.3E (optional)
• ZF 5HP502C (optional)

Axles

• Meritor (front and rear)

Brakes

• 'S'-Cam with ABS (standard)
• Disc Brakes (optional)

Air Conditioning

• Roof Mounted R134A (standard)
• Thermo King 105,000 BTU (optional)
• Carrier 83,000 (optional)

Operators

Guatemala

• Transurbano - Guatemala City

United States

• Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority (AAATA) - Ann Arbor, MI
• Berks Area Reading Transportation Authority (BARTA) - Reading, PA
• Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority (MAX) - Birmingham & Jefferson County, AL
• Breckenridge Free Ride - Breckenridge, CO
• Cambus (University of Iowa Transit) - Iowa City, IA
• Capital Metro Transit - Austin, TX
• Charlottesville Transit Service (CTS) - Charlottesville, VA
• Chicago Transit Authority - Chicago, IL
• C-TRAN - Vancouver & Clark County, WA
• Clemson Area Transit - Clemson, Seneca, SC
• Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority - Des Moines, IA
• Electric City Transit - Anderson, SC
• Greater Lynchburg Transit Company (operated by First Transit) - Lynchburg, VA
• Greenville Transit Authority (Greenlink) - Greenville, SC
• Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) - Virginia Beach/Norfolk/Newport News, VA
• Hill Country Transit District (The HOP) - TX
• Indiana County Transit Authority (IndiGO) - Indiana, PA
• Indianapolis Public Transportation Corporation (Indy-Go) - Indianapolis, IN
• Intracity Transit - Hot Springs, AR
• Lake Erie Transit (LET) - Monroe, Bedford, Milan/London, MI
• LINK Transit - Chlean & Douglas Counties, WA
• Long Beach Transit - Long Beach, CA
• Marshalltown Municipal Transit - Marshalltown, IA
• Memphis Area Transit Authority - Memphia, TN
• MET Transit - Waterloo, IA
• METRO Transit - Oklahoma City, OK
• Miami-Dade Transit - Miami & Dade County, FL
• Maryland Transit Administration - Baltimore, MD
• Oxford-University Transit Commission - Oxford, MS
• Pocatello Regional Transit - Pocatello, ID
• Pueblo Transit - Pueblo, CO
• Red Rose Transit Authority - Lancaster, PA
• Regional Transportation Commission - Reno, NV
• River Valley Transit - Williamsport, PA
• Skagit Transit - Skagit County, WA
• TheBus - Honolulu, HI
• University of Montana UDASH - Missoula, MT
• Utah Transit Authority - Salt Lake City, UT
• Waco Transit - Waco, TX
• Wichita Transit - Wichita, KS
• Williamsport Bureau of Transportation - Williamsport, PA

Demonstrator/engineering units

Fleet number	Thumbnail	Year	VIN	Engine	Transmission	Notes
		2001	1C9B5DMS41W535001	Cummins ISB	Allison	34' diesel with rear door. Sold to Electric City Transit in 2003.
		2004	1Z9B5BRSX4W216253	Cummins ISB	Allison	29' diesel with single door. Sold to Electric City Transit in 2005.