Mellor has displayed the first two examples from its upcoming Sigma electric bus range. JAMES DAY went to Millbrook Proving Ground for a first look
Rochdale-based Mellor surprised the industry when it announced an upcoming range of full-size electric buses. The Sigma range, which will eventually offer six length variations, puts the company best known for minibuses in direct competition with the full-size single-deckers produced by the likes of Alexander Dennis, Wrightbus and Switch in the UK bus manufacturing industry.
After a previous announcement in November 2021, the range was shown to the trade press for the first time at Millbrook Proving Ground. Two buses were displayed –a 7m variant, and a 10m variant, which are expected to start entering service in the first two quarters of 2022. Further variants, at 8m, 9m, 11m and 12m, are expected in the second and third quarter. Each is given a name based on the length of the bus – the 7m variant will be the Sigma 7, for example.
Though the onset of a new Covid variant necessitated caution and reduced some of the fanfare of the launch, it was nonetheless intriguing to see such a large vehicle with a Mellor badge on the front. Even the Sigma 7 is imp…
