On 30 June, the 100 % electric bus MAN Lion’s City E 12 was presented in a press conference at the Adampolis auto centre in Vilnius. The results of the latest tests performed with the bus are striking — 24 hours of uninterrupted use, no intermediate charging and 550.8 km of travelled distance — impressive results of a real-world MAN electric bus test performed in Munich on 18 May. Man Lion’s City E has demonstrated that electric mobility is now available for everyday use and is a great option for local public transit authorities.
A new generation of buses — simpler maintenance and digitalisation
The Man Lion’s City E bus started serial production this year. There are two options for bus length: 12 and 18 metres. The 12-metre bus can accommodate up to 90 passengers and the 18-metre bus can accommodate up to 130 passengers at a time.
“It is always a bit frightening when technology, an entire generation of vehicles, is changing. The question arises: how will we take maintain them? Electric vehicles are characterised by ease of maintenance and require less attention — there are simply fewer repairs and parts that can wear out. It is a thoroughly tested product already in serial production, which we can confidently offer to Lithuanian bus companies. We have the necessary knowledge and support from the manufacturer, MAN Truck & Bus, to ensure proper vehicle service in the Adampolis service network,” says Ričardas Tverijonas, Commercial Manager (Chief Commercial Officer) of UAB Adampolis.
The bus can currently be equipped with 480 kWh or 640 kWh batteries.
The main advantage of the new electric buses is that customers can charge buses in their lots without having to invest in additional charging infrastructure.
The new generation of buses is characterised by a high level of integration and digitalisation. All data supplied by the bus computer is automatically transferred to a platform developed by MAN — MAN DigitalService. “To observe conditions, to make decisions these days, we all want to do this remotely. This is a very simple tool used by our existing truck and city bus customers,” Tverijonas emphasised during the conference.
Test drive under day-to-day conditions in Munich with TÜV SÜD monitoring
On 18 May in Munich, the MAN Lion’s CITY E electric bus drove exactly 24 hours along the route Karlsfelder Straße-Moosacher-Puchheimer station, with MAN ProfiDrive drivers. The MAN eBus Efficiency Run was accompanied by journalists and experts from the official testing organisation TÜV SÜD, who sealed the car charging inlet before the bus began its journey, then at the end of the day removed the seal and calculated the distance travelled. “Man Lion’s City E” was on a specific route, stopping at every bus stop, opening and closing its doors. In addition, weights were added to simulate the average weight of passengers. The bus was driven in a partially-loaded condition, at a temperature characteristic of spring weather on a relatively even urban/interurban route — in favourable conditions from a practical point of view. The distance of 550 kilometres is more than a great result, reflecting the positive experience of most customers using or testing MAN Lion’s City E bus.
Last year, for example, in the Spanish city of Badajoz, the 12-metre electric bus test results were truly impressive. At a temperature of more than 35 degrees, Lion’s City E bus successfully completed the entire 16-hour shift and travelled the public transit operator’s route of 284 km. At the end of the day, the bus battery was still not fully discharged.
Excellent reviews after testing on the streets of Vilnius
UAB Vilniaus viešasis transportas tested the electric bus on the existing route 10 in the city of Vilnius (Fabijoniškės — Baltupiai — Markučiai). Passengers could feel the comfortable ride offered by the new bus and appreciate its modern design.
“The test took six days, of which two were weekend days, one was a state holiday and two were working days. The length of the route in both directions was 25 km. We could learn more about the batteries if we tested the bus for a longer period, but on the whole we are satisfied with the battery charge,” said Andžej Puzevič, head of the repair department at UAB Vilniaus viešasis transportas, sharing his impressions of the testing. When asked how the test drivers were selected, Puzevič replied: “Our company has regular drivers who test buses all the time. They thoroughly inspect all the bus equipment and then give feedback. I could say that of all the buses tested, the drivers gave the best feedback about this bus.”
The possibilities offered by the sophisticated battery technology of the electric bus will take your breath away
This success is partly due to the development of state-of-the-art battery cell technology by the Volkswagen Group, which is exactly what MAN uses in its electric buses. In addition, due to the complex temperature control, the electric bus can be operated in a variety of weather conditions, regardless of the time of year. It is for this reason that Lion’s City E can drive up to 270 kilometres throughout the battery’s operating life. It has been shown during the efficient driving of a MAN electric bus that, under optimal day-to-day conditions, the distance indicator can even exceed the 270 km limit.
The range is also influenced by innovative technology and an efficient driving style. That is why MAN ProfiDrive drivers were selected to drive the bus during the entire test drive in Munich. Driver training is an essential part of the whole concept of electric mobility.
MAN is one of the first electric buses in the world
For the MAN brand, electric vehicles are not a novelty. In 1970, the MAN 750 HO-M10 E was one of the world’s first fully electric city buses. It accommodated as many as 99 passengers, was able to reach a maximum speed of 60 km/h, and the battery was enough to travel 50 kilometres. At the 1972 Olympics in Munich, a MAN electric bus carried athletes to their events.
Trends in electric mobility and the first orders in Europe
The trend towards electric mobility is particularly noticeable in cities. In 2020, the total European market for electric buses consisted of more than 2,000 vehicles, mainly used in urban centres. MAN Truck & Bus expects alternative technologies to be the basis for half of all new MAN buses by 2025. To meet the growing demand for Lion’s City E buses, MAN continues to actively increase its production capacity. In the coming years, the company plans to produce up to 2,500 vehicles per year at its plant in Poland. If demand continues to grow after 2026, production capacity can be increased.
Following the issuance of the European Union’s directive on environmentally friendly road vehicles, cities were obliged to set up an emission-free mobility scheme, which aims to achieve zero emissions rather than low emissions. More and more public transit companies are starting to understand such a goal, but so far most public transit companies are only considering the purchase of battery-powered city buses. It is encouraging to see that the first orders for electric buses are already being submitted. You will be able to ride a MAN electric bus in Germany, Denmark and Sweden in the near future.
Largest orders for MAN Lion’s City E Bus for European cities:
- 37 buses for Hamburg;
- 25 buses for Copenhagen;
- 22 buses for Malmö;
- 39 buses for Nuremberg.
An electrified future! MAN supports transit companies working with innovative vehicles and services adapted for this purpose.
MAN Truck & Bus firmly believes that the future of urban mobility is electric vehicles. Therefore, the company dedicated its activities to one main objective: battery-powered electric vehicles. The new MAN Lion’s City E bus is the perfect standard solution for local public transport. Electric bus drivers and customers will undoubtedly benefit from integrated electric mobility consultations and futuristic mobility solutions focused on charging infrastructure, sustainability and digitalisation.
With innovative electric buses suitable for day-to-day use and tailor-made services for such buses, MAN wants to provide the best possible support for the commercial vehicle sector. This sector is crucial when it comes to the decarbonisation of transport and efforts to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas mobility. The direction of such a journey is guided by the legal specifications for reducing CO2.
