MAN is certain that the future of European city buses will be electric. “In 2025, around half of all new buses will have an electric drive,” says Viktor Schaub, who is responsible for product marketing at MAN. “By 2030, we expect an electric share of 80 to 90 percent.”
In addition to zero emissions and less noise, other advantages of an electric bus in the city center are obvious. The passenger transporters drive to a depot at night, have fixed downtimes during which they can be recharged easily and at a reasonable rate. Two to three hours are enough to get the battery pack in the underbody or on the roof fit for the next morning shift. Recuperation can also recover up to 40 percent of the energy consumed during a tour.
Departure from Munich: the journey begins with a fully charged battery. The electricity storage on the roof has a capacity of 480 kWh.
Emission-free, reliable and suitable for everyday use
And that has to be proven: In a one-week practical test, MAN sent an all-electric MAN Lion’s City 12 E on a week-long journey from Munich – and we were on board all the way to Innsbruck. With the tour, MAN wants to show that it is already possible to travel throughout Europe emission-free, reliably and suitable for everyday use. The e-bus should prove that it has more than enough energy even for demanding routes.
The drive mobilizes up to 326 hp and 3400 Nm
Stage destination Walchensee: Despite the steep ascent, the MAN still has plenty of power in its battery. And on the descent it is recuperated.
And in Munich it will also start on Friday afternoon. The sun is shining and it’s a pleasant 17 degrees Celsius – perfect conditions for an electric vehicle. About a big one screen In the passenger area you can find out what the MAN Lion’s City 12 E can do at any time during the journey. After the tough inner-city traffic on a busy Friday afternoon in Munich, it’s a bit over the Freeway Head south and then along the country road to the pretty Kochelsee.
Even mountain stages are no problem
While the blue eco-bus from Munich still had a remaining range of 402 kilometers after 25 kilometers at a maximum speed of 82 km/h, the situation is 81 kilometers later and despite the steep ascent to Walchensee with one Range of 370 kilometers is still very pleasing.
Arrival in Innsbruck: After 165 kilometers, the Lion’s City still has 480 kilometers of remaining range in the battery. This is impressive.
Range anxiety no longer matters
It goes with a longer stopover in the center of Mittenwald, the border crossing to Austria and the long descent on the Zirler Berg down to the Inn Valley and across half of Innsbruck to the evening stage destination. 165 kilometers driven and finally a remaining range of an impressive 480 kilometers. MAN has thus once again clearly broken the range record from the Munich city center record from 2021 and cast aside all doubts that an electric bus would not be the perfect vehicle for the city center.
