This year the manufacturer has received a number of major orders for its trucks and buses from countries such as France, Germany, Israel, Egypt or Singapore. The Parisian public transport company RATP, the fifth largest provider of public transport services in the world, has bought 103 MAN Lion’s City buses to expand its fleet, including 50 hybrid and 53 compressed natural gas vehicles, expected to be delivered in 2015. The volume of this order is around 30 million Euros.
With exceptionally low fuel consumption and low emissions, these buses have particularly high seating and standing capacities of around 100 persons. MAN Lion’s City CNG is a vehicle that RATP can depend on due to the decades of experience MAN has with NGVs. Using concentrated biomethane, the buses can be operated as CO2-neutral. Due to the very smooth fuel combustion, CNG buses are especially quiet when under way. RATP currently operates around 750 MAN city buses in the French capital.
Moreover, MAN has received an order from the City of Sofia for 126 Lion’s City G CNG type articulated buses, which will be used for public transport. The first 20 buses have already been handed over. These city buses for Sofia are powered by 310 HP, 6-cylinder natural gas, Euro 6 engines. When filled up with biogas or e-gas, the articulated bus is also virtually carbon neutral, offering emission levels comparable to that of fully electric vehicles.
The buses are also fitted with a four-step six-speed automatic gearbox with built-in retarder. The 18-metre long Lion’s City G CNG seats up to 150 passengers comfortably. The air-conditioning system with 33kW cooling capacity ensures comfortable temperature control on warmer days.
Source: MAN
