Whether in the city or cross-country – the MAN Lion’s City 12 E LE masters both with flying colors. In addition to its flexibility, it also scores with its sustainability, which has now also impressed the jury of international trade journalists for the Sustainable Bus Awards (Sby). The first all-electric low-entry bus from MAN thus won the award in the “Intercity” category. The Sby Award was presented for the seventh time since its inception. As in previous years, the jury only awarded prizes to the most innovative and sustainable buses and coaches on the European market. “Last year, our Lion’s City 10 E won the race and this year it is the Lion’s City 12 E LE that has left the competition behind and won over the jury. We are extremely proud of this,” says Heinz Kiess, Head of Product Marketing Bus at MAN Truck & Bus, who accepted the award today at the gala dinner at the FIAA 2024 international bus and coach trade fair in Madrid.
Jury honors performance, sustainability and flexibility
The Sby Award is the only European prize to recognize innovative, sustainable technologies that will significantly shape the future of mobility. It is awarded by a trade press jury representing ten European countries in the three categories of city bus, intercity bus and coach. It awarded the prize to the MAN Lion’s City 12 E LE because the model meets the growing demand for low-entry buses. The all-electric city bus is powered by a powerful central electric motor with a peak output of 240 kW. MAN’s modular battery concept allows the number of battery packs to be flexibly adapted to requirements in terms of charging time, number of passengers and range. The Lion’s City 12 E LE offers a choice of four to six battery packs with a capacity of up to 480 kWh. According to the jury, it is characterized by outstanding performance as well as emission-free operation. In addition, operators can optimally manage their electric bus fleet and optimize performance and maintenance thanks to MAN DigitalServices. The verdict also states that the model is designed to be so flexible that it can be used in both urban and interurban transportation. It underlines MAN’s commitment to sustainability and at the same time offers a practical and adaptable solution for the requirements of modern public transport. For these reasons, the Lion’s City 12 E LE more than deserves the “Sustainable Bus Award”.
Award-winning: MAN eBus family generates enthusiasm
The low-entry bus celebrated its world premiere at Busworld 2023, making it the latest addition to MAN’s eBus portfolio. “We are delighted that it has already received this highly prestigious bus award just one year after its premiere. We owe this to a team that works tirelessly for sustainable and innovative solutions,” explains Barbaros Oktay, Head of Bus at MAN Truck & Bus, adding: ”This commitment ensures that our eBuses prove themselves day after day in use and score points for range, reliability, comfort and environmental friendliness. This is extremely well received by customers, passengers and experts alike.” Last year, the Lion’s City 10 E received the Sby Award 2024 and the Lion’s City 12 E is the international “Bus of the Year 2023”.
Perfect for suburban and intercity routes
The Lion’s City 12 E LE is based on the electric 12-metre solo bus, but ensures a particularly high level of seating comfort with a floor landscape adapted to customer feedback. With up to 41 passenger seats plus a special area for wheelchairs and baby carriages and a low-entry rear landscape without a motor tower, the Lion’s City 12 E LE is perfect for suburban lines with Class 1 approval. The low-entry bus also marks MAN’s all-electric entry into the growing intercity bus segment. “Class 2 approval for use on intercity routes will soon be possible for the eBus. The stricter specification for body rigidity in UN ECE R 66.02 will then also apply to these,” explains Kiess.
About the Sustainable Bus Award
The aim of the Sustainable Award is to create a positive awareness of sustainability. Aspects such as safety, comfort, noise development, recyclability of components, but also the manufacturer’s general environmental awareness play a role in the jury’s assessment. These are issues that are also important to MAN and that drive the company and its employees every day.
