MAN received an order for 181 electric buses in Belgium, by Hansea

Belgian private bus operator Hansea has 90 MAN Lion’s City E buses in operation and in early August landed a deal for a further 181 e-buses from the same OEM, bringing its fleet to a total of 271 of the fully electric city buses. A success story that began back in 2021 with the test deployment of a Lion’s City E.

The vehicles will be delivered in 2024 and 2025.

What is interesting, according to an article on Belgian-Dutch Magazine Personenvervoer, as of late 2023, 282 zero emission buses were in operation in Belgium, 40% coming from MAN’s factories (but also Van Hool was in good position with 54 units running). And 292 were set to be introduced in 2024 and 2025 based on contract already signed: the main part of these will be covered by Iveco Bus (contract with De Lijn was signed in early 2023) and Daimler Buses (109 E-Way and 92 eCitaro – 70 of those awarded in April 2023 by STIB).

MAN electric buses for Belgium

10, 12 and 18-meter e-buses are involved in the order. Thanks to the different variants, Hansea can use the new bus fleet for a wide range of applications throughout Flanders. The company operates local and long-distance bus routes as part of a contract with the public transport companies De Lijn and TEC. Hansea also offers school buses, employee transportation and coach services.

In 2021, the first MAN Lion’s City E was already making its rounds in Belgium on Antwerp line 36. Hansea tested the electric bus, which was part of the MAN Truck & Bus eBus demo fleet, for a year. The successful test deployment formed the basis for the follow-up orders for initially 90 and now a further 181 eBuses from MAN.

To ensure that drivers and passengers arrive relaxed at all times, “Hansea attached great importance to extensive comfort and safety equipment – MAN states in the press release announcing the awarding -. MAN OptiView, for example, makes turning easier for the bus driver, especially in heavy city traffic. This is because the mirror replacement system makes the blind spot visible and thus ensures greater safety on the road, particularly when turning, but also when changing lanes and maneuvering. The equipment also includes a reversing camera, LED headlights, electric sun protection, a light/rain sensor and a comfortable driver’s seat. Passengers are also seated in comfortable seats with high-quality seat covers and USB ports”.

“With this new order, the Hansea fleet will grow to over 270 MAN eBuses, making it the largest zero-emission bus fleet in Belgium,” says Barbaros Oktay, Head of Bus at MAN Truck & Bus, adding: ”We are incredibly proud that Hansea has once again opted for our eBus. The order clearly shows how satisfied Hansea is with our Lion’s City E and that it is proving its worth day after day.”

“Sustainability is a key issue for us as well as for MAN. The order is definitely a milestone that confirms our joint commitment to sustainability,” says Joris Larosse, CEO from Hansea. He continues: “Our goal is to fully electrify our entire bus fleet by 2035. We have relied on MAN to convert our fleet right from the start. Over the last ten years, we have developed a trusted partnership based on intense professional cooperation.”