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Mellor Sigma

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For the Optare step-entrance single-deck bus body, see Optare Sigma.

Mellor Sigma
Wonder Bus Mellor Sigma 7 in Wells-next-the-Sea in November 2024
Overview
ManufacturerWisdom Motor
Mellor Coachcraft
Production2021–2024
Body and chassis
Doors1 or 2
Floor typeLow-floor
ChassisIntegral
Powertrain
EngineDana TM4 electric motor
TransmissionAutomatic
Electric rangeUp to 220 miles (350 km)
Dimensions
Length6.99–13.50 metres (22.9–44.3 ft)
Width2.08–2.55 metres (6 ft 10 in – 8 ft 4 in)
Height3.11–3.30 metres (10.2–10.8 ft)

The Mellor Sigma is a battery electric single-deck bus range manufactured by Wisdom Motor in China and sold in Europe by Mellor Coachcraft between 2021 and 2024.[1] It was available in various lengths, from 6.99 – 13.50 metres, with the shortest being marketed as the Mellor Sigma 7,[2] and the longest as the Mellor Sigma 13.[2]

The Sigma was created as a zero-emission single deck vehicle, marketed as improving "demand for cleaner solutions to public transport".[3] Mellor claim that there is a weight saving across all models compared to competitor vehicles, with capacities between 30 and 80 passengers depending on the vehicle size.[4]

Mellor initially launched the Sigma with the Sigma 7 and Sigma 10 models,[5] with the Sigma 7 being a single door model and the Sigma 10 being a dual door model. The Sigma 7 debuted at ITT Hub,[6] while the 9.4 metres (31 ft) Sigma 9 later debuted at Busworld Europe 2023 in Brussels. A 13.5 metres (44 ft) variant known as the Sigma 13 was also announced at the event in October 2023.[7]

As of May 2024, Mellor Coachcraft had ceased to market the Sigma bus range.[1]

Operators

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United Kingdom

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The first Sigma 7 went to the Holkham Estate's Pinewoods Holiday Parks in Wells-next-the-Sea, for a bus service to replace the former Wells Harbour Railway,[8][9] while the first Sigma 12s were ordered by Whippet Coaches for delivery in July 2023, where nine will be used on the company's Universal network serving the University of Cambridge.[10]

The Sigma range has proved popular with some county councils across the United Kingdom, with some specifying Sigmas built on a high-floor platform. Orders across the range have been placed by the Dumfries and Galloway Council, the East Riding of Yorkshire Council and the Islington London Borough Council.[9][11] Smaller orders have been received from operators such as London Hire and Shuttlebus.[12][13]

On the Channel Islands, LibertyBus of Jersey took delivery of a pair of Mellor Sigmas in November 2023, which entered service the following month.[14][15]

Mainland Europe

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The first Sigma for mainland Europe were ordered by Swedish operator Nobina for Gothenburg contract city services on behalf of the Västtrafic regional transport authority, with seven Sigma 7s destined for operation on Nobina's route T22 in the city's Angered and Bergsjön districts.[16] 42 more Sigma 7s were ordered for Gothenburg demand-responsive transport services operated by Connect Bus in February 2023,[17] and three Sigma 7s were delivered to the German city of Kiel's municipal bus operator Kieler Verkehrsgesellschaft [de] in August 2023.[18][19]

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  • LibertyBus Sigma 8 in St Helier, Jersey in June 2024
    LibertyBus Sigma 8 in St Helier, Jersey in June 2024
  • A Sigma 9 on display at Busworld Europe 2023
    A Sigma 9 on display at Busworld Europe 2023
  • A Sigma 10 performing demonstration runs at the 2022 Euro Bus Expo
    A Sigma 10 performing demonstration runs at the 2022 Euro Bus Expo
  • Whippet Coaches Sigma 12 in Cambridge in November 2023
    Whippet Coaches Sigma 12 in Cambridge in November 2023

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Mellor and Treka product offerings and sales teams come together". routeone. 23 May 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2024. Concurrent with the product and sales team alignment has been confirmation that the Sigma battery-electric bus range no longer forms part of the Mellor range. Previously, it was built by Wisdom Motor and badged as a Mellor product.
  2. ^ a b "Sigma". Mellor Coachcraft. Archived from the original on 30 June 2022. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
  3. ^ "Mellor launches new all-electric Sigma range". Mellor Bus. 13 December 2021. Archived from the original on 14 December 2021. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  4. ^ "SIGMA: Mellor lifts lid on all-new electric bus range". Mellor Bus. 17 November 2021. Archived from the original on 30 November 2023. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  5. ^ Crawford, Alex (17 January 2022). "Mellor Sigma: Zero emissions with zero compromise?". routeone. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  6. ^ "Mellor's 7-metre Sigma public debut at ITT Hub". Bus & Coach Buyer. 10 May 2022. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  7. ^ "Mellor to take Sigma electric as far as 13.5m as nine-metre debuts". routeone. 17 October 2023. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  8. ^ Baldwin, Louisa (9 February 2022). "Wells Harbour Railway to be replaced by electric bus from this summer". Eastern Daily Press. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  9. ^ a b "Mellor Sigma orders placed in UK and mainland Europe". routeone. 19 July 2022. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  10. ^ Deakin, Tim (14 November 2022). "Whippet to take Mellor Sigma 12 fleet for Universal route". routeone. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  11. ^ "Up to 420kW/h and 300 miles for Mellor Sigma line-up". routeone. 19 December 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  12. ^ Deakin, Tim (16 November 2022). "London Hire electric focus: Minibuses and Mellor Sigma". routeone. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  13. ^ "'Strong demand' for Sigma range". Coach & Bus Week. Peterborough. 26 July 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  14. ^ "LibertyBus introduces Mellor electrics". Coach & Bus Week. Peterborough. 16 January 2024. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  15. ^ "Jersey's first electric buses set to take to the roads". Bailiwick Express. St Helier. 3 December 2023. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  16. ^ "Nobina introduces Mellor's Sigma 7". Coach & Bus Week. Peterborough. 20 December 2022. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  17. ^ "Mellor sells 42 more Sigma 7 small buses to Sweden". routeone. 2 February 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  18. ^ Peat, Chris (10 February 2023). "Mellor Sigmas attract first German customer". Bus & Coach Buyer. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  19. ^ "Mellor delivers Sigma 7 low-floor trio to Kiel in Germany". routeone. 10 August 2023. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
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