MAN Truck & Bus has officially launched its new Lion’s Coach 14 E fully-electric coach, the first vehicle of its kind to be brought to the European market.
The new vehicle, which is set to make its debut at this year’s Busworld Europe show in Brussels this October, features an energy capacity of 356 to 534 kWh, with a range of up to 650 kilometres.
With a passenger capacity of up to 61, the vehicle comes with no restrictions in luggage volume from a minimum of 11 to a maximum of 13 cubic meters and utilises drive technology from the series-produced eTruck alongside NMC battery packs.
The basis for the eCoach is formed from the company’s Lion’s Coach line, which was first unveiled in 2017.
Full series production is set to begin in 2026 at MAN’s Turkish plant in Ankara, which has received a full conversion to handle eMobility over the last several months, with an ‘early fleet’ of eCoaches set to be provided to selected customers in core European markets next year.
Barbaros Oktay, Head of Bus at MAN Truck & Bus, said:Our e-coach marks the beginning of a new era of emission-free and low-noise travel that many customers have been waiting for. We are delighted to be at the forefront here and to be putting such a dynamic and innovative coach on its wheels.
The realignment at the site in Ankara is an important part of MAN's transformation into a provider of sustainable transport solutions.
Initial routes will see the MAN Lion’s Coach E operate along short to medium distances, with a maximum range of up to 650 kilometres including shuttle services, works transport and city trips.
Heinz Kiess, Head of Product Marketing Bus, said:The eCoach is also a real opportunity for coach tourism to reach new target groups for whom sustainability is also a key factor in travel planning.
MAN has stated that it intends to develop a new megawatt charging infrastructure (Megawatt Charging System, MCS, up to 750kW) in the near future, extending electric coach application toward long-distance travel.
