Mellor has continued its success in left-hand drive European markets with the smallest member of the Sigma battery-electric range with the conclusion of a deal for three Sigma 7 low-floors to be delivered to KVG Kieler Verkehrsgesellschaft mbH in northern Germany.
That business is wholly owned by the city of Kiel. The Sigma 7 buses will be supplied by Mellor’s local distributor partner Jebsen and Jessen Industrial Solutions in March. They will each have 14 seats and be used on a route that serves some of Kiel’s narrowest streets.
Training has been provided using a demonstration Sigma 7 before the three production examples are delivered. All of the latter will come with cold climate adaptations, including a more powerful cab and saloon heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system as well as battery pre-conditioning to maximise range on cold days.
Conclusion of the deal with KVG Kieler Verkehrsgesellschaft represents a first order for the Sigma product from a German operator. It follows two deals for the Sigma 7 in Sweden, the most recent of which involves 42 units for Connect Bus, which will utilise them in Gothenburg.
Speaking about the latest order, Gustavo Marqueta, Group Business Director of Mellor parent WN Vtech Group, says: “It is a pleasure to work with JJ e-Mobility and KVG Kiel to bring Sigma 7 to Germany – yet another landmark moment for the Mellor brand, which is expanding internationally.
“The operator’s use case is exactly the reason why Sigma exists – a size-appropriate design that offers a low total cost of ownership but which is packaged as a ground-up electric bus. We are grateful for the confidence that KVG has put into us and our Sigma product range and we look forward to seeing the buses in revenue-earning service.”
