MAN Truck & Bus has delivered its first complete electric bus to a customer outside of Europe, with the supply of a Lion’s Explorer 12 E vehicle to Golden Arrow Bus Services (GABS) in Cape Town, South Africa.
The Lion’s Explorer E bus is based on the new Lion’s Chassis E, which is scheduled to go into series production from 2024.
Typically, MAN only offers chassis to the global market. These are then assembled into complete vehicles by certified body manufacturers in their country of operation. However, in this case, MAN also built the bus body according to the customer’s requirements.
“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. Even more so when we make a significant contribution to more environmentally friendly mobility.”
Golden Arrow Bus Services (GABS) will now complete test operations with the electric bus in Cape Town. Ultimately, the transport company aims to gradually convert its fleet of diesel buses to electric.
The electric bus has four 80 kWh battery packs, providing a total capacity of 320 kWh. Its integrated electric motor generates power of up to 240 kW, allowing the bus to operate on Cape Town’s coastal roads.
“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. 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.”
