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.

ADL announced that the Plaxton (Panther & Leopard) coaches are to be built on the Volvo B8R chassis with a choice of I-Shift (automated manual) and automatic transmissions. These coaches are set to be built at ADL’s Scarborough plant, which ADL says, “benefits from a flexible set-up that allows lines to be switched between coach and bus production.”

Around GBP600m has been committed by KKR & Co Inc, and a further GBP270m is being invested by one of Zenobē’s existing shareholders, Infracapital.

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.

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

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.

Speaking with Deniz Cetin, Chief Commercial Officer at Karsan Automotive & Board Member at Group Companies at Cenex (2023), T&BB was informed that Karsan has bid on autonomous electric bus contracts (tenders) in Spain, Israel, Qatar and Canada. Deniz confirmed that Karsan recently delivered an autonomous bus to Istanbul which comes off the back of two successful autonomous bus trials in Norway and the USA.

UK operator, Newport Transport, appoints Equipmake to convert 8 of its double-deckers to electric power with its Zero Emission Drivetrain (ZED).

Intellectual property, offices, and testing facilities based in Apeldoorn, Netherlands have now been transferred to ConMet, and former staff associated with the heavy-duty motor development have moved to ConMet as well.

The bus manufacturer said it is looking to fill around 100 skilled and semi-skilled production positions at its factory in Northern Ireland, along with 50 apprenticeships.

The Enviro400EVs are fitted with roof-mounted charging rails that allow their 472kWh battery system to be topped up from pantographs installed at the Harrogate bus station.

The company now aims to acquire certificates from FMVSS, as well as the California Air Resources Board and the Environmental Protection Agency, before the end of the year, making its ‘P7’ vehicles roadworthy and eligible for incentives.