Ayrshire operator and long-time Mellor user Shuttle Buses is the first to operate the Sigma 8 electric midibus
Rochdale-based Mellor has delivered its first two Sigma 8s to Ayrshire operator Shuttle Buses. The buses represent a significant milestone for Mellor, being not only the first Sigmas in Scotland, but also the first customer examples of the electric midibus to be delivered.
Finished in Shuttle Buses’ distinctive yellow and white livery, the two Sigma 8 midibuses are capable of carrying 27 seated passengers plus up to 27 standees and have been configured to Mellor’s ‘rural’ specification with a single passenger door. Shuttle Buses already operates eight Mellor Strata minibuses as part of its 60-strong fleet in North Ayrshire. The two vehicles were part-funded by Transport Scotland under the ScotZEB scheme, with financing from Virgin Money Asset Finance Direct.
Managing Director of Shuttle Buses Ross Granger said: “Our two Sigma 8s have settled down well and we’re achieving 145 miles a day with battery power to spare, even in a Scottish winter. Drivers and passengers alike appreciate the ‘big bus’ feel of the Sigma, and we look forward to continuing to partner with Mellor as we move towards an all-electric fleet.”
Before placing an order for the 2.35m wide Sigma 8s, the long-standing Mellor customer tested a Sigma 10 demonstrator. “Shuttle Buses were undoubtedly impressed with the quality, engineering and refinement of the Sigma,” said Mellor Bus Division Managing Director Morgan Clissett. “The company’s previous experience in working with us has, for them, allowed for a smoother transition to EVs than with another manufacturer. Our whole philosophy is about making the purchasing and aftersales process easier for our customers. We see it as a partnership, rather than a single transaction.”
