Mellor helps drive ground-breaking Halo project with zero-emissions Orion E bus

The Halo Enterprise and Innovation Centre (HEIC) has taken delivery of a fully-electric Mellor Orion E bus

One of the most environmentally friendly urban renewal developments in the UK has bought a fully electric bus from Rochdale manufacturer Mellor.

The Halo Enterprise and Innovation Centre in Scotland – which has invested almost £1.5million in cutting edge low carbon technology – has completed the purchase of a Mellor Orion E bus, with the help of a Green Economy Fund grant from SP Energy Networks.

The Mellor Orion E is the world’s first small, low-floor, zero-emissions bus. Boasting an impressive 160km of range and taking just 4.25 hours to reach full charge, the 16 person-capacity bus employs the latest in electric motor and drivetrain technology.

The bus will provide zero-emissions transport for visitors to the state-of-the-art 50,000 square foot centre in Kilmarnock, within the 23-acre Halo Digital and Cyber Innovation Park, a £63m brownfield urban regeneration project.

Marie Macklin CBE, Founder and Executive Chair at the Halo Urban Regeneration Company, said the bus “aligns perfectly” with its vision of a “sustainable community powered by renewable energy.”

Alongside the Mellor Orion E bus, the Halo also features 10 zero-emissions e-bikes and chargers, two electric cars, a world-class battery storage facility and 12 fast-charging electric vehicle chargers.