Mellor

Orion E 16-seat Accessible

Electric minibus · M2 · Updated 2026-08

Mellor Orion E — the definitive fully low-floor accessible electric minibus for Irish county councils, school transport, Dial-A-Ride and disability services. Designed and built specifically for community transport operations.

Mellor Orion E 16-seat Accessible — electric minibus Ireland 2026
🔍 Tap to enlarge
€98,000 Guide price inc. VAT
160km WLTP ~125km real-world
160WLTP range km92kWh battery
125Real range kmIrish conditions est.
50Max DC kWFast charging
15.0s0–100 km/hAcceleration
€98,000PriceInc. 23% VAT
€258Motor tax/yrM2 minibus rate

⚙️ Technical specifications

Battery capacity92 kWh
WLTP range160 km
Real-world range (Ireland)~125 km
Acceleration (0–100 km/h)15.0s
Top speed100 km/h
Torque350 Nm
DrivetrainFWD
Max DC charge rate50 kW
Max AC charge rate22 kW
ConnectorsCCS · Type 2
Cargo volume500 L
Seats16
Dimensions
Length7,700 mm
Width2,100 mm
Height2,850 mm
Battery warranty5 years / 200,000 km
CO₂ emissions0 g/km
🏁 WLTP range160km
🇮🇪 Real-world (Irish)~125km

Estimates based on mixed Irish motorway/urban driving. Actual range varies with speed, temperature, load and driving style.

Mellor highlights

♿
Accessible community transport
Low-floor design with wheelchair accessibility as standard
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿
British-built
Mellor Coachcraft manufactures in Rochdale, England
🏫
School and community use
Designed for NTA school transport and community transport contracts

💰 Irish pricing & incentives

List price (inc. 23% VAT)€98,000
Guide price€98,000
Motor tax €258/yr
Estimated annual running costs (30,000km)
Home/depot charging (€0.24/kWh)~€4,140
Public charging (€0.49/kWh avg)~€8,452
Motor tax€258/yr
Saving vs diesel equivalent (€1.65/L)~€1,800/yr
💡 Fuel savings: At €0.24/kWh depot charging rate vs diesel at €1.65/L, annual fuel savings on the Orion E at 30,000km are typically ~€1,800, based on the estimate above — actual savings vary with route profile and driving conditions.

🚘 Orion E — All Trims & Pricing Ireland 2026

All prices are guide prices. Confirm current pricing with your authorised dealer.

Model / Trim Battery & Range Price
Orion E 16-seat Accessible
Standard
92kWh · 160km €98,000
Orion E 22-seat High Capacity
High Capacity
92kWh · 147km €104,000

Prices include 23% VAT. Business buyers: BIK OMV deduction of €20,000 applies in 2026. Always verify with dealer.

🇮🇪 Orion E on Irish routes

Route analysis for typical Irish shuttle and community transport operations.

✈️ Airport transfer (DUB) 30km · City centre
✅ Single charge — 95km remaining
🛣️ Dublin → Cork (shuttle service) 260km · M8
⚡ Charge stop recommended
🛤️ Dublin → Galway (shuttle) 220km · M6
⚡ Charge stop recommended
🏨 Hotel shuttle daily (circular) 80km · /day
✅ Comfortably within daily range
🏫 School bus daily route 60km · /day
✅ Single charge — 65km remaining
🤝 Community transport route 100km · Regional
✅ Single charge — 25km remaining

Based on ~125km estimated real-world range. Actual range varies with load, speed and conditions.

👥 Is the Orion E right for you?

Airport transfer route✅ Excellent
Hotel / corporate shuttle✅ Ideal
Passenger capacity✅ 16 seats
SEAI purchase grant⚠️ No standard scheme for M2
Intercity shuttle route⚠️ Charge stop needed
School transport contract✅ Suitable
Overnight depot charging✅ 7.4kW–22kW wallbox
💡 Best for: Community, council and disability transport.

⚡ Charging guide

🏠 7.4kW home wallbox (0–100%)~13h
🏠 11kW three-phase (0–100%)~9h
🏢 22kW AC (0–100%)~5h
⚡ 50kW ESB ecars DC (10–80%)~77min
Connectors (DC)CCS
Connectors (AC)Type 2
🔌 Irish networks: Mellor Orion E buses use CCS Combo 2 for DC charging — compatible with Irish commercial charging infrastructure.

The Mellor Orion E is a purpose-built accessible electric minibus designed for community transport, school contracts and local authority operations. It supports overnight depot charging on standard CCS infrastructure.

📐 Dimensions & cargo

Length7,700 mm
Width2,100 mm
Height2,850 mm
Cargo volume500 L
TowingNot rated
Seats16
Battery warranty5 years / 200,000 km
🔋 Battery warranty: 5 years / 200,000 km. Manufacturer covers against capacity loss below 70%.

❓ Frequently asked questions — Mellor Orion E 16-seat Accessible

The Mellor Orion E 16-seat Accessible has an Irish list price of €98,000 (including 23% VAT). The range starts from €98,000 list price. Confirm current pricing with your authorised dealer and verify grant eligibility at seai.ie.
The Mellor Orion E 16-seat Accessible has a WLTP official range of 160km. In real-world Irish conditions — stop-start delivery routes, cold mornings and motorway runs with payload — expect approximately 125km per charge. This suits depot-based daily operations comfortably.
No standard SEAI purchase grant currently covers M2 minibuses (10-22 seats) — SEAI's EV grant scheme applies to M1 passenger cars and N1 vans, while heavier M3 buses are funded separately through the Department of Transport's ZEHDV scheme. Public sector or community transport operators may be able to access separate capital funding (e.g. via Local Link, HSE transport schemes, or Department of Rural and Community Development programmes) for accessible or community minibuses, but this is project-based funding rather than a standard per-vehicle purchase grant. Verify current options at seai.ie and gov.ie.
Yes. The Mellor Orion E 16-seat Accessible has a real-world range of 125km, making it well-suited to Irish airport transfer routes (Dublin City to DUB Airport: ~12km, Cork City to ORK: ~6km). For operators running 200–300km per day across multiple transfers, overnight charging at a 7.4kW–22kW depot wallbox is sufficient. Midday opportunity charging at the airport takes 30–60 minutes at a 50kW+ charger.
The Mellor Orion E 16-seat Accessible is configured for 16 seats in its standard minibus specification. As an M2 category vehicle (10–22 seats), drivers require category D1 licence in Ireland. Confirm seating configuration with your authorised dealer.
Mellor Coachcraft is a British specialist bus and coach manufacturer based in Rochdale, England. The Orion E is their purpose-built electric minibus, designed specifically for accessible community transport, school bus contracts and local authority services. It has been adopted by several Irish transport operators and community groups.
The Mellor Orion E 16-seat Accessible supports up to 50kW DC and 22kW AC charging. At a 7.4kW home wallbox, a full charge takes approximately 13 hours. At a 50kW ESB ecars rapid charger, 10–80% takes around 77 minutes.
The Mellor Orion E 16-seat Accessible uses CCS (DC fast charging) and Type 2 (AC), compatible with all major Irish networks including ESB ecars, Ionity, EZO, Circle K and Applegreen.
Motor tax for the Mellor Orion E 16-seat Accessible is €258 per year — the applicable rate for this M2 minibus category. Bus and minibus motor tax in Ireland is based on passenger capacity and vehicle class, not CO₂ emissions. Confirm the exact rate for your registration with the local Motor Tax Office or at motortax.ie.

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📐 Calculators for the Orion E
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Fleet Grant & TCO Calculator
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Depot Charging Cost Calculator
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Solar panels on a depot, warehouse or yard building can offset a significant portion of EV charging costs — reducing grid import and improving fleet TCO. SEAI Non-Domestic Microgen grants and TAMS III (agri) are available. Accelerated Capital Allowance allows year-1 tax write-off.

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ZEHDV Grant guide — how to apply for the truck grant
The Zero Emission Heavy Duty Vehicle (ZEHDV) grant is NOT administered by SEAI — applications go to the Department of Transport. Our guide covers eligibility, documentation, how to apply for multiple vehicles in one submission, and common mistakes to avoid.
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