Mellor has continued its success in Europe with the delivery of three battery-electric Sigma 7 low-floor buses to the German city of Kiel.
They were ordered earlier this year and are described by Mellor as “a significant milestone” for its expansion into international markets. It worked with local distributor partner Jebsen and Jessen Industrial Solutions on the deal, with customer KVG Kieler Verkehrsgesellschaft having used a demonstrator for three months to train drivers ahead of the delivery.
Each of the new buses seats 14 with space for a wheelchair user. Cold climate adaptations are fitted to take account of winters in northern Germany. That package includes powerful heating, ventilation and air-conditioning equipment for passengers and the driver and a battery thermal pre-conditioning system to ensure range in cold temperatures.
Data released by Mellor in 2022 shows that the Sigma 7 has 127kW/h of battery capacity to give a claimed 160 mile range. It comes with a GVW of 9,000kg and in low-floor format is 7.15m long. Mellor earlier supplied the model to Swedish customer Nobina.
Speaking about the work in Germany, Mellor Group Business Development Manager Max Eschmann says: “Supplying the three Sigma 7 vehicles to Kiel is a significant moment for us at Mellor.
“The delivery was a result of working closely with our international partners to understand the German market needs to progress Mellor’s journey into its transport landscape. It will help us to deliver both sustainable and accessible transport to passengers in Kiel.
“At Mellor we are committed to strengthening our presence in the German market and we are looking forward to receiving feedback from KVG and its passengers in the coming months on the Sigma 7 vehicles.
“We will continue to further enhance and refine our electric buses to meet the evolving needs of customers and support the transition to greener, sustainable transportation solutions across the DACH region.”
