The first MAN e-bus delivered outside Europe goes in South Africa

MAN has delivered its first complete electric bus in Africa, specifically in Cape Town. The Lion’s Explorer E vehicle delivered in South Africa is based on the new Lion’s Chassis E, which is scheduled to go into series production from 2024. This was anticipated by Head of Bus Barbaros Oktay at Sustainable Bus earlier this year.

MAN mainly offers chassis on the global market, which are then assembled into complete buses in the country by certified body manufacturers. In the case of the Lion’s Explorer E, however, MAN not “only” supplied the chassis, but also built the body according to the customer’s wishes and market requirements, the OEM stresses. The launch of MAN electric bus chassis was announced in 2022.

Series production of the e-bus chassis at MAN’s Polish plant in Starachowice is then scheduled to start in 2024.

MAN first e-bus delivered out of Europe

Together with Barbaros Oktay, Head of Bus at MAN Truck & Bus, and Jan Aichinger, Managing Director of MAN Truck & Bus South Africa, Alexander Vlaskamp handed over the first Lion’s Explorer E and thus the first MAN eBus to a customer outside Europe in South Africa. The vehicle went to the operator Golden Arrow Bus Services (GABS), which will now use it for a test operation in Cape Town. The transport company’s goal is to gradually convert its fleet of diesel buses to electric vehicles.

Our path leads from low emission to no emission. To achieve this, we are relying entirely on electric mobility in the city bus segment with the Lion’s City E in Europe – and worldwide we are doing the same with the Lion’s Chassis E

Alexander Vlaskamp, CEO of MAN Truck & Bus

MAN Lion’s Explorer E: for Africa

MAN Truck & Bus states it is the market leader in the bus business in South Africa, with a market share of just over 45 percent of bus sales (end of 2022). The goal is to maintain this position in the future with electric drives. “This requires vehicles that have innovative technologies, convincing ranges, and solutions that are tailored to the market and well thought out – like the Lion’s Explorer E,” says Oktay, adding, “We are doing everything we can to ensure that the new eBus is as well received in South Africa as our Lion’s City E is in Europe, with over 1,000 units already produced.”

The body was realized at the MAN Bus plant in Olifantsfontein, South Africa. MAN explains that the upstream assembly of the electric high-floor chassis was carried out in conjunction with the second local MAN site in Pinetown, which is particularly sustainable thanks to its climate-neutral production.

In the future, the Lion’s Explorer E will take the residents of Cape Town and its environs safely, comfortably and emission-free to their destinations. Findings and experience from the test operation, which is now beginning, will be used to continuously improve the vehicle. The e-bus has four battery packs based on NMC technology (lithium-nickel-manganese-cobalt battery) with 80 kWh each, giving it a total installed capacity of 320 kWh. An integrated electric motor generates a peak power of up to 240 kW.

MAN electric bus in Africa: high floor variant will follow

In a first step, the eChassis will be offered as a two-axle truck for low-floor applications. Versions for low-entry and intercity buses (high floor) are to follow at a later date. To ensure that it can also be used anywhere, there will be a left-hand drive and right-hand drive variant.

For the components for the eChassis, MAN is relying on the technology from the Lion’s City E.

Following the first handover in South Africa, further “demo buses” based on the Lion’s Chassis E are to be delivered in markets outside Europe in the coming months. Series production at MAN’s Polish plant in Starachowice is then scheduled to start in 2024.

“We are relying entirely on electric mobility in the city bus segment”

“It’s a special experience for each of us when we hand over a new vehicle or technology to a customer for the very first time,” says Alexander Vlaskamp, CEO of MAN Truck & Bus, adding: “Even more so when we make a significant contribution to more environmentally friendly mobility”.

“Partnerships with like-minded companies are key to moving forward and making a difference. For MAN, too, CO2-free driving is a core element of its strategy and the handover of the MAN Lion’s Explorer E is a milestone along the way,” adds Alexander Vlaskamp. “Our path leads from low emission to no emission. To achieve this, we are relying entirely on electric mobility in the city bus segment with the Lion’s City E in Europe – and worldwide we are doing the same with the Lion’s Chassis E. Because our responsibility for sustainable mobility does not end at Europe’s borders.”

“Electric buses are already on the road in South Africa. However, the special thing about the MAN Lion’s Explorer 12 E is that it was developed specifically for use here,” Barbaros Oktay makes clear. The new model is being built entirely in South Africa. “In this way, we can ensure that the eBus perfectly meets the needs of the local transport companies and, at the same time, can also be integrated into existing processes in the best possible way. If this succeeds, electromobility will gain significant momentum in South Africa – we are convinced of this.”

“With our electric chassis, we now offer the MAN electric bus solution for international markets. With the chassis, bodybuilders from all over the world get the ideal basis for their all-electric models,” adds Barbaros Oktay.