Mellor Bus was just another vehicle conversion specialist before it started taking Ducato vans and installing them with electric powertrains. Now, according to Gustavo Marqueta-Siibert, Group Business Development Director for Mellor’s parent, WN VTech Ltd, Mellor is challenging the major European bus manufacturers in segments and applications which have thus far been neglected in the transition to electric vehicles.

The company has announced a lineup of no fewer than eight buses and coaches from Mercedes-Benz and Setra, including two models making their debuts.

Tanganelli has worked for UBS in the Investment Banking Division, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles in Business Development, CFO and Head of automotive components manufacturer, Magneti Marelli and most recently, assumed the role of CFO and Head of M&A at the Iren Group.

The 12-metre low-entry Ikarus 120e has an 86-passenger capacity in a 3-door configuration. The 314 kWh LFP battery pack allows for a range of up to 350km (217 miles) on a single charge.

Signirficantly all these vehicles are fully accessible with automatic wheelchair lift and are equipped with modern passenger conveniences such as USB charger and Wi-Fi.

Series production of the Lion’s City E range began at Starachowice, Poland in October 2020.

At stand 629 in hall 6, the company is set to debut its new roof-mounted AC138 EVO air conditioning system which is set to go into series production in Q1 2025.

The funding is being allocated to the government’s Zero Emission Buses Regional Area (ZEBRA, now ZEBRA 2) Scheme, initially launched in 2021 to allow local transport authorities to bid for funding for zero-emission buses and supporting infrastructure.

MCV will produce the buses under licence at its facility in Egypt, employing chassis supplied from Volvo’s factories in Sweden.

The funding is to come from the Department for Transport (DfT), National Highways, HS2 Ltd, Network Rail and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

130 units of the ‘Urbino 12 hydrogen’ line will be delivered over the next few years, the vast majority of which (127) will be delivered to the Metropolitan City of Bologna.

Following the framework sale of the e-Jest electric shuttle bus in the right-hand drive market in Japan earlier this year - Karsan is now exploring entry into the UK market with first deliveries planned for 2024.