The well-known MAN Factory has recently decided to start production of the most modern bus throughout Europe. Thanks to this vehicle, public transport will become more comfortable and, above all, ecological. It will be a hybrid bus built on the basis of the already running Lion's City model.
Hybrid bus - when can we expect it?
Hanover - this is where MAN recently celebrated the premiere of the new bus hybrid. The MAN factory is already preparing to start the production of the new model. However, at the very beginning, when the hybrid bus is built, it will have to undergo a series of tests. The end of the period of production and road testing of the model is estimated at 2020. If everything goes according to plan, then the MAN Truck & Bus factory, located in the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, plans to start mass production.
Read also: Hybrids as the future of the automotive industry or a temporary trend?
Bus durability
The electric bus model, which had its premiere at the IAA show in Hanover in September, will be equipped with a set of batteries that will be mounted on its roof. Depending on the version of the bus, the battery will have a capacity of 480 kWh or 640 kWh. The length of the bus route that it will be able to cover on these batteries is important in all this. It is estimated that the vehicle will be able to travel 270 km, but depending on weather conditions, this length may be shortened to 200 km.
Bus loading time
A hybrid bus is an ideal solution to protect nature from the amount of exhaust fumes produced by other, ordinary vehicles. Transport, as we know it, is refueled by various means, such as gasoline, gas or oil. The hybrid bus needs to be recharged when its journey ends. The latest model can be charged in a very short time, less than three hours. If it has larger batteries, this time may be extended to 4 hours. These are estimated numbers for now, because the model can still be changed and improved.
Read also: Electric cars, are they really ecological?
Passenger safety
The place of the batteries that will be mounted on the roof of the hybrid bus is not accidental. The first reason given by the MAN factory is passenger safety, as the batteries located on the roof reduce the risk of damage in a collision. Additionally, it is a big plus for functionality. The bus will not have a traditional battery compartment in the back, which will save a lot of space for passengers.
Production in Poland
Currently, tests of the model are planned, which will be performed in such cities as Hamburg, Munich, Wolfsburg, but most importantly, production will start in Poland.
