Three Forveda Mobility minibuses supplied to East Lothian Council
East Lothian Council has taken delivery of three Forveda Mobility minibuses built on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter base vehicle, supplied by EVM UK.
Access is via the OEM passenger door and a three-stage step, while at the rear the original 270-degree doors are retained and a passenger lift is fitted. 16 seats with three-point belts are provided along with hard-wearing Tarabus non-slip flooring.
In-dash and roof-mounted air-conditioning is part of the package, and the passenger area also has a separate heater. Speakers are within the saloon ceiling, while the driver benefits from a multimedia unit with a 10-inch screen and a reversing camera.
The Sprinter 515CDi base vehicle is used, including the 9G-Tronic automatic gearbox. Externally the minibuses are finished in arctic white.
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EVM to showcase range at Scotland roadshow on 24-25 February
EVM will showcase members of its accessible minibus and small coach ranges to operators, local authorities and community transport organisations in Scotland on 24 and 25 February when it hosts a roadshow at the Doubletree by Hilton Glasgow Strathclyde in Bellshill.
Six vehicles will be present, with Area Sales Manager Lorna Miller and Business Development and Market Strategy Manager Tim Griffen both on hand among other industry experts with the supplier to engage with visitors. The products to be shown are:
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- Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Tribus M1 minibus, capable of carrying eight seated passengers or four wheelchair users
- Mercedes-Benz Sprinter EVM Cityline low-floor 16-seat accessible minibus – which is available in diesel or as the battery-electric e-Cityline
- Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Forveda Mobility 16-seat accessible minibus
- Karsan e-JEST 12-seat battery-electric microbus that uses a BMW drivetrain
- Mercedes-Benz Sprinter EVM X-Clusive luxury minicoach highlighting the converter’s offering in the high-end field
- AOS Grand Toro midicoach, which seats up to 37 and will give guests the opportunity to learn more about the upcoming Grand Toro II.
Attendance is free and the event will give visitors the opportunity to discuss key industry topics and take a close look at vehicles that EVM believes “are integral options for councils and transport fleets in 2026 and beyond.”
Ms Miller will provide a product overview and demonstration of each of the models present, while Mr Griffen will deliver a seminar on funding and market trends. The supplier’s wider sales team responsible for northern UK regions will also be present.
EVM notes how a similar roadshow was staged in 2025 and was successful. Ms Miller adds how the 2026 gathering “is about supporting the industry in a way that feels welcoming and informal.”
She continues: “It is important to us that everyone feels relaxed and part of the day. We have got a strong line-up of industry professionals joining us to talk all things bus with guests from community transport, local authorities and bus service operators.
“Last year’s event was a real success, and this year’s is one we are especially excited about – with great hospitality and a fantastic vehicle showcase.”
Each day will operate two sessions, the first between 1000-1245hrs and the second from 1300-1545hrs. Tickets can be booked online, and food and refreshments will be provided.
Bee Network Vantage BRT corridor to get StreetDeck Electroliners
Bee Network routes that use the Leigh Guided Busway will transition to battery-electric from May with a fleet of Wrightbus StreetDeck Electroliner double-decks, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has confirmed.
Those vehicles form part of a wider procurement of 78 battery-electrics for first tranche operations centred on Bolton depot that are delivered by Go North West. 20 are already in service. All 58 of the outstanding vehicles will be StreetDeck Electroliners, TfGM says.
TfGM says that 43 of those buses will have what it terms an “enhanced Bee Network specification for busway services” including coach-style seating with synthetic leather covering, tables in the upper saloon, and “premium tinted windows.” Guidewheels will be fitted to permit busway operation.
On the Vantage V1, V2 and V4 routes between Leigh and Atherton and central Manchester, they will displace a collection of Volvo B5LH diesel-electric hybrids dating from 2015 and 2016.
Delivery of the 58 buses is expected over a number of weeks between May and June. A phased conversion of the busway routes to zero-emission will thus be undertaken rather than waiting for all to be delivered.
On the charging strategy, TfGM says it has worked closely with Go North West and utilised route analysis tools. Route V1 operates 24/7 but the franchising body says that the primary focus remains on overnight battery replenishment.
“However, there is a minimal requirement for opportunity charging during the day, but with zero effect on the service,” a spokesperson adds.
The 78 additional battery-electrics for Go North West represent an investment of £46.4 million as part of a wider £51.1 million Clean Air Plan-funded scheme that also includes depot electrification work at multiple sites.
In 2025, TfGM noted how investment in bus priority along the Vantage corridor had seen patronage there more than double since before the current services were introduced. It has delivered reduced journey times and usage that is above pre-pandemic levels. Services along the common section run up to every 4min during the high peak.