A new generation of buses: easier maintenance and digitalisation
The MAN Lion’s City E bus is already in series production from this year. There are two choices of bus length: 12 and 18 metres. A 12 meter long bus can accommodate up to 90 passengers, while a 18 meter long bus can accommodate up to 130 passengers at a time.
“It’s always a little scary when the technology, the generation of vehicles changes. The question arises: how will we maintain them? Electric vehicles are characterized by easy maintenance and require less attention: there are simply fewer repairs and wearing parts. This is a thoroughly tested product already in series production, which we can also safely offer to Lithuanian bus fleets. We have the necessary knowledge and support from the MAN Truck & Bus manufacturer’s organization to be able to guarantee an adequate vehicle maintenance service “in the Adampolis service network,” he says “Adampolis” UAB Commercial Director Ričardas Tverijonas.
Currently the bus can be equipped with 480 kWh and 640 kWh batteries.
A key advantage of the new electric buses is that customers can charge existing buses in fleets without having to make additional investments in charging infrastructure.
The new generation of buses is characterized by a high level of integration and digitalisation. All data provided by the bus computer is automatically transferred to the platform developed by MAN – “MAN DigitalService.” “Today we all want to monitor status and make decisions remotely. It is a very simple tool that our current truck and city bus customers use,” R. Tverijonas emphasized during the conference.
Test performed in Munich under daily conditions under the supervision of TÜV SÜD
On May 18, the MAN Lion’s City E electric city bus, with MAN ProfiDrive drivers at the head, traveled for exactly 24 hours between the stations Karlsfelder Straße, Moosacher and Puchheimer. The MAN eBus Efficiency Run was attended by journalists and experts from the official TÜV SÜD test facility, who sealed the car’s charging socket before the bus departed, removed the seal at the end of the day and calculated the distance travelled. MAN Lion’s City E followed a specific route, stopping at each bus stop, opening and closing the doors. Additionally, additional weights are used to simulate the average weight of passengers. Traveling by partially loaded bus in spring temperatures on a relatively flat urban/interurban route: favorable practical conditions. The mileage of 550 kilometers is also more than a very good result, reflecting the positive experience of the majority of customers who use or test the MAN Lion’s City E.
For example, last year, in the Spanish city of Badajoz, the test results of a 12-meter-long electric bus were truly impressive. In temperatures above 35 degrees, the Lion’s City E successfully completed a full 16-hour shift and covered the route of the public transport operator: 284 kilometers. At the end of the day the bus battery was still not completely discharged.
Great reviews too after trying Vilnius
The company “Vilnius Public Transport” tested the electric bus on the real line 10 of the city of Vilnius (Fabijoniškės – Baltupiai – Markučiai). Passengers could really feel the comfort of the new bus and appreciate its modern design.
“The test lasted 6 days, including two departures, one public holiday and two working days. The length of the route in both directions was 25 kilometers. We could learn more about the batteries if we tested the bus longer, but overall we are satisfied with the remaining battery,” UAB shared impressions of the test “Andžej Puzevič, head of the repair department of public transport in Vilnius.
A. Puzėvič, when asked how he chose the drivers who will test the bus, said that the company has permanent drivers who test the buses. They carefully inspect all the bus equipment and then provide all feedback. As for the MAN Lion’s City E, these specialists gave the best feedback on this bus among all the buses tested.
Thanks to sophisticated battery technology, the possibilities of using the electric bus will no longer be promised
This success is partly due to the advanced battery cell technology developed by the Volkswagen Group, which MAN uses specifically in its electric buses. Furthermore, thanks to sophisticated temperature control, the electric bus can be used in various weather conditions, regardless of the time of year. It is for this reason that Lion’s City E is guaranteed to travel up to 270 kilometers over its entire battery life. During efficient driving of the MAN electric bus it was proven that under optimal daily conditions the travel distance indicator can even exceed the 270 kilometer mark.
The distance traveled is also influenced by innovative technologies and an efficient driving style. For this reason, during the entire test drive in Munich, experienced drivers from MAN ProfiDrive were behind the wheel of the bus. Driver training is the essence of the entire concept of electric mobility.
MAN is one of the first electric buses in the world
Electric vehicles are nothing new for the MAN brand. in 1970 the MAN 750 HO-M10 E was one of the first fully electric city buses in the world. It accommodated 99 passengers, could reach a maximum speed of 60 km/h and had enough battery to travel 50 kilometres. held in Munich in 1972 during the Olympic Games, the MAN electric bus transported the athletes to the competitions.
Electric mobility trends and first orders in Europe
The trend towards urban electrification is particularly pronounced. In 2020, the European electric bus market exceeded 2,000 vehicles, primarily used in city centers. MAN Commercial Vehicles predicts that by 2025, half of all new MAN city buses will utilize renewable energy technologies. To meet the growing market demand, MAN is continuously expanding its production capacity. In the coming years, the company plans to reach an annual production capacity of 2,500 vehicles at its factory in Poland. If demand continues to grow after 2026, production capacity can be further increased.
According to the EU directive on environmentally friendly road vehicles, cities must establish zero-emission transportation systems, striving for zero emissions, not just low emissions. More and more public transport operators are beginning to understand this goal, but currently most operators are only considering purchasing battery-powered city buses. I am pleased to see that the first concrete orders for electric buses have begun to increase. In the near future, MAN electric buses will be available in Germany, Denmark, and Sweden.
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