Business with electric buses is picking up significantly at MAN Truck & Bus. More than 700 MAN electric buses have already been ordered since the Lion’s City E went on sale. The latest order for a total of 53 of the all-electric city buses has now come from Hamburg. However, several of the eBuses are already in use – throughout Europe. 

Emission-free urban mobility: More than 700 MAN electric buses already ordered More and more operators are turning to electric buses. They are particularly in demand for urban transport due to their especially quiet and sustainable drive. Like the MAN Lion’s City E, which is now in service across Europe and impresses operators, drivers, and passengers alike. It’s no wonder that demand is rising steadily and more and more companies are opting for MAN’s all-electric city bus – such as Hamburger Hochbahn AG and Verkehrsbetriebe Hamburg-Holstein GmbH (VHH), which are already ordering the eBus for the third time. · Almost 60 percent of city buses registered in Europe in 2021 will be alternatively powered – share of electric buses rises to almost 22 percent · Hamburg, Nuremberg, Copenhagen, Zurich: MAN eBus convinces and provides sustainable mobility in many European cities · Latest order: Hamburger Hochbahn AG and Verkehrsbetriebe Hamburg-Holstein GmbH (VHH) order a total of 53 eBuses · 133 Lion’s City E sold in fiscal 2021, total of more than 700 MAN eBuses already ordered since sales launch · 90 percent of MAN city buses to be delivered with battery drive by 2030 They are on the road to success throughout Europe: electric buses.

More and more operators are opting for electric vehicles, especially in local public transport. After all, they can really show off their strengths in cities, as they are particularly quiet and sustainable. As a result, they meet the increasing demand to continuously reduce pollutant and noise emissions. According to Chatrou CME Solutions, 59.4 percent of the 14,990 city buses registered in Europe in 2021 had an alternative drive system (EU27 expanded with UK, Iceland, NO, CH).

The share of battery buses (BEVs) rose particularly sharply: from 14.8 to 21.7 percent. In terms of units, 3,282 electric buses were newly registered in the European market last year (source: Chatrou CME Solutions). The fact that electromobility is so successful in urban transport is based, among other things, on vehicles such as the MAN Lion’s City E. The all electric city bus was launched in 2019 and is now in daily use in many European countries. Bus operators and drivers are just as enthusiastic as experts and passengers about the range, reliability, comfort, and sustainability of the locally emission-free vehicle. And more electric buses from MAN Truck & Bus also hit the road in 2021. Annual sales totalled 133 Lion’s City E, which corresponds to a share of around 5.5 percent of the city buses sold by MAN in Europe last year (2,402 vehicles). In Germany, this puts MAN in third place in terms of eBuses registered in 2021.

“However, our goal is quite clearly to put even more electric buses on the road: By 2025, half of our new city buses will be alternatively powered. And we expect that just five years later – in 2030 – 90 percent of our city buses will be delivered with battery drive,” says Rudi Kuchta, Head of Business Unit Bus at MAN Truck & Bus, adding, “The feedback from the market is excellent, and a look at our order books also clearly shows that we can achieve these figures.”

In total, MAN Truck & Bus has signed contracts with customers for the delivery of more than 700 electric buses since the Lion’s City E went on sale. Latest sales success: Another 53 eBuses go to Hamburg MAN recently received two orders for a total of 53 eBuses from Hamburg. Hamburger Hochbahn AG ordered 17 MAN Lion’s City 18 E buses – a first for the transport company, which ordered eBuses from MAN for the first time. The first vehicles will be delivered this year. The second order from Hamburg comes from Verkehrsbetriebe Hamburg-Holstein GmbH. “This is the third time VHH has opted for eBuses from MAN – a great endorsement for us and our vehicles,” says Kuchta.

The current order comprises 30 solo eBuses with a length of 12 meters and 6 articulated eBuses with a length of 18 meters. Delivery of the first buses is scheduled for later this year. Already in operation for VHH are 37 MAN eBuses, which are delighting passengers, drivers and operators day after day in Hamburg and Norderstedt. With the all-electric city buses, the transport company is successfully setting the course for the emission-free mobility of tomorrow. MAN Lion’s City E impresses in Scandinavia Also on the road are 25 MAN Lion’s City 12 E buses in Copenhagen.

In February, Malte Kauert, Managing Director of MAN Scandinavia, handed over the vehicles to Poul Anchersen, CEO and owner of the local transport company Anchersen A/S. The vehicles will be used on the city’s public transport network. The buses will be used on Copenhagen’s central bus route 7A, which carries more than 4.3 million passengers each year. To make urban transport as sustainable as possible, the new city buses are charged exclusively with green electricity. This means they run completely emission free in daily operation. A further twelve eBuses were recently delivered to Vikingbus in Odder, meaning that 37 electric buses are now making their rounds on Danish roads. In neighbouring Sweden, too, the MAN Lion’s City E will ensure that passengers reach their destinations safely, reliably, and in an environmentally friendly manner.

KEOLIS has ordered a total of 75 MAN Lion’s City 18 E buses for Sweden. “This is one of the biggest sales successes to date for our all-electric city bus – and of course a great success for the entire team, which has been highly motivated for years to advance innovative technologies and is constantly working to improve vehicles and services even further,” says Rudi Kuchta. 60 electric MAN articulated buses are going to Gothenburg and 15 to Stockholm.

Another 12 MAN Lion’s City 18 E will soon be running in Uppsala, Sweden. This is a first for Gamla Uppsala Buss AB (GUB), which ordered the vehicles. This is because they are the first electric buses to be used in Uppsala. The framework agreement also includes an option for a further 65 electric buses – 45 of which are Lion’s City 18 E and 20 Lion’s City 12 E solo buses. Already in service are 22 Lion’s City E in the coastal city of Malmö in the southern Swedish region of Skåne. They are operated by Nobina Sverige AB. “All these orders clearly show how great the international interest is in innovative and forward-looking drive technology,” says Kuchta.

Sustainability meets comfort and safety The 39 eBuses of VAG Verkehrs-Aktiengesellschaft Nürnberg are also already in operation. The company initially ordered 15 and then, as part of a follow-up order, a further 13 Lion’s City 18 E and 11 Lion’s City 12 E from MAN Truck & Bus. MAN also scored a sales success in Switzerland. Starting in the fall of 2022, 15 MAN eBuses will be in service in Zurich on the city’s standard bus routes. Verkehrsbetriebe Zürich (VBZ) is pursuing a consistent electric bus strategy and has opted for the MAN Lion’s City 12 E as part of this strategy. The environmentally friendly buses are expected to make a significant contribution to the climate targets of the city of Zurich. “And that is precisely what makes our MAN Lion’s City E so successful. It makes sustainable driving possible – without operators, drivers and passengers having to sacrifice aspects such as comfort and safety,” says Kuchta