SWEDEN
Scandanavian operator Connect Bus has ordered 42 electric Sigma 7 buses from Mellor through its Swedish distributor BK Invest to serve the Västraffik Flex demand responsive transport (DRT) service. The new buses will be operated by Connect Bus under contract to transport authority Vastraffik, which oversees public transport in the Vastra Gotaland region of Sweden.
The new buses will build on Connect Bus’ existing fleet of Mellor flat-floor Orion E minibuses introduced in March 2020. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2023. The operator said that adaptability had played a vital role in its choice of bus and expanding its fleet of Mellor vehicles. The manufacturer worked closely with the operator to understand the needs of the users and to implement learnings from the Orion E fleet in designing and configuring the new Sigma 7s.
“The Mellor Orion E has been instrumental in delivering the Västraffik Flex line service for several years,” said Gustavo Marqueta, Group Business Development Director at Mellor. “The new, Sigma 7 buses are the next step for Västraffik Flex line services, combining the flexibility of a minibus with the features expected from big bus design and technology. Our Sigma 7 is the smallest in a new range of electric buses designed to meet today’s passenger and operational needs and is the perfect fit for established DRT operations looking to switch to an all-electric service.”
Christian Plyhm, CCO of Connect Bus, added: “We are very excited with this contract which supports our commitment to zero-emission public transport in Scandinavia. We are pleased to reinforce our partnership with Mellor, which has launched an innovative range of electric buses that suits our needs as a leading regional operator.
