Tell us about the new MAN Lion’s Coach 14 E?
The Lion’s Coach 14 E, the first battery-electric coach from a major European manufacturer, celebrated its world premiere at Busworld in Brussels in October. This fully electric coach uses the proven drive technology from the successfully series-produced eTruck and innovative lithium-ion battery technology (NMC) battery packs. These are manufactured in large numbers at our Nuremberg plant.
The Lion’s Coach E has a usable energy capacity of 320 to 480 kWh. Under optimal conditions, it can achieve ranges of up to 650 kilometres – a distance that allows many typical travel routes to be covered without recharging. Its smart design concept significantly reduces the drag coefficient and, at the same time, the eCoach offers space for up to 63 passengers without any restrictions on luggage volume compared to the diesel version. It follows on from the success of the Lion’s City E family, with almost 3,000 e-buses already produced for urban and interurban use.
What about the accolades it has received?
The Lion’s Coach E also impressed the international jury of the Sustainable Bus of the Year Award, composed of industry journalists, who honoured it with the prize in the ‘Coach’ category.
The judges particularly emphasised its sustainability: the model achieves a component recycling rate of over 95%, is manufactured in facilities certified to international environmental standards, and features responsible battery lifecycle management.
Describe MAN’s Lion’s City 12 E LE bus?
The vehicle is the next major product update of the successful Lion’s City E, which includes the latest lithium-ion battery technology from MAN’s facility in Nuremberg. Production of the MAN BatteryPack is currently being ramped up there to a capacity of up to 50,000 units per year. The new packs feature even higher energy density, optimised safety systems and improved charging flexibility. For operators, drivers and passengers, this means greater efficiency and safety.
Can you talk about MAN’s EfficientHybrid drive system?
The EfficientHybrid technology, which has already been used in the current Lion’s City and Lion’s Intercity low-entry models, is now also being introduced in the high-floor segment. Energy is recovered and stored during braking. When stationary, the D15 diesel engine can be switched off due to its start-stop technology, resulting in silent stops and lower emissions. In addition, the stored energy supports the engine in boost mode, which saves fuel and reduces pollution.
How about the services and digital solutions MAN can provide bus and coach customers?
MAN Transport Solutions offers tailor-made solutions for the transition to eMobility – from charging infrastructure and deployment planning to total cost of ownership (TCO) calculations. MAN DigitalServices solutions also support operators in the efficient control of their vehicles, for example through fleet management, predictive maintenance and consumption analyses.
Our customers can not only expect state-of-the-art vehicles from us, but also a complete all-round offering in terms of sustainable mobility – from batteries and consulting to digital tools. Our goal is to play a key role in shaping the future of bus transport.
Robert Katzer
Head of Sales & Product Bus at MAN Truck & Bus
