MAN, a bus manufacturer, has declared its decision to exclusively invest in zero-emission buses for urban areas and municipalities in Europe starting from 2030. During the UITP Global Public Transport Summit 2023 in Barcelona, Heinz Kiess, Head of Product Marketing Bus at MAN Truck & Bus, confirmed that the company will discontinue the sale of combustion engine city buses in Europe by 2030. Kiess also stated that, considering the market trends, gas drivetrains do not appear to have a promising future, while fuel cell buses are expected to occupy no more than 10 percent of the bus market.
This announcement comes in light of the EU Commission’s proposed emission limits for Euro 7, set to become mandatory for buses and trucks over 3.5 tonnes by 2027, with smaller commercial vehicles and passenger cars affected two years earlier. The implementation of Euro 7 vehicles would necessitate the diversion of technical and financial resources from emission-free technologies, such as hydrogen or battery-electric vehicles, back to combustion engines. Frederik Zohm, MAN’s Chief Development Officer, echoed this sentiment and urged politicians to reconsider aspects of the Euro 7 regulation to prevent manufacturers from incurring substantial costs that would hinder investments in alternative propulsion systems.
As part of their commitment to zero-emission transportation, MAN unveiled the Lion’s City 10 E, the latest addition to their electric bus lineup, at the UITP in Barcelona. This model completes the Lion’s City E series, which already includes variants measuring 10.5 meters, 12.2 meters, and 18.1 meters in length. The Lion’s City 10 E has been in production at MAN’s Polish city bus plant in Starachowice since the beginning of 2023. It boasts continuous power of 160 kW (240 kW peak) and is equipped with NMC batteries. The rooftop installation can accommodate four or five battery packs, with a capacity of either 320 kilowatt-hours (250 kWh usable) for a range of up to 235 kilometers or 400 kilowatt-hours (320 kWh usable) for a range of up to 300 kilometers.
MAN joins Daimler Buses, which previously announced its plan to exclusively offer electric city buses in Europe by 2030. Daimler Buses also revealed its intention to introduce the first fully electric intercity bus by 2025, with further plans for fuel cell-powered coaches in the coming decade. The industry is witnessing a significant shift towards electrification as manufacturers prioritize sustainable mobility solutions.