MAN Electric Bus for Singapore

MAN Lion’s City E
MAN Lion’s City E layout
Manufacturer MAN (chassis)
Bodywork Gemilang Coachworks
Years in operation Arrived in Singapore in 2024 (2-Door)
Operators TBA
Technical Data
Length 12 metre
Motor Electric motor
Battery TBC
Accessibility Low Floor
Emission Standard Zero tailpipe emissions

MAN, ST Engineering Mobility Services and Gemilang Coachworks are collaborating to deliver an electric low-floor, three-door city bus for the Singapore market, likely based on the MAN Lion’s City E model. This bus is built on the MAN Lion’s Chassis E LF chassis and assembled in Malaysia by Gemilang Coachworks. ST Engineering revealed this development at the Singapore BusTech Grand Challenge 2022, with the bus initially expected ‘by around 2023’. A prototype vehicle was delivered to Singapore in 2024.

This marks MAN’s debut in Singapore’s electric bus market, coinciding with the Land Transport Authority’s (LTA) plans to rapidly electrify the public bus fleet, aiming for half of all buses to be electric by 2030, which is about 3,000 buses. The final name/model of the bus remains to be confirmed.

ST Engineering has also previously supplied 20 Linkker LM312 electric buses to Singapore in collaboration with Gemilang Coachworks, and delivered a diesel-to-electric bus conversion project in 2021.

Chassis Background

First announced in June 2022, the MAN Lion’s Chassis E is the first fully-electric bus chassis offered by MAN Truck & Bus. The chassis integrates proven technologies from the MAN Lion’s City E integral bus, which has been in series production since late 2020. In October 2022, the chassis was unveiled for the first time at the Australasia Bus & Coach Expo in Sydney.

MAN is offering the all-electric chassis in a two-axle configuration, suitable for low-floor (Lion’s Chassis E LF), low-entry (Lion’s Chassis E LE) and high-floor (Lion’s Chassis E HF) applications, accommodating both left- and right-hand drive layouts. This flexibility caters to various overseas markets beyond Europe. Production of the chassis is set to take place at MAN’s plant in Starachowice, Poland.

Furthermore, two types of traction batteries are offered: lithium nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) familiar to the Lion’s City E, and a new lithium ferrophosphate (LFP) option. MAN says that these options cater to different requirements of international bus companies concerning daily range, overall performance, and costs. MAN is also building large-scale battery manufacturing facilities in Nuremberg to support its electric bus and truck offerings.

Also, MAN disclosed in an October 2022 press release that it was collaborating with its global network of coachbuilders to deliver the first assembled demonstration vehicles as early as 2023. These buses are expected to undergo evaluation for performance and functionality in target markets such as Australia and likely Singapore.

Singapore market

In November 2022, MAN Truck & Bus Malaysia and Gemilang Coachworks showcased a partially completed unit at Gemilang’s plant in Senai, Johor. Both companies expressed optimism in supplying the regional market with these electric buses, with MAN Malaysia adding that it planned to assemble the eBus chassis locally to improve its price competitiveness.

For the Singapore market, the low-floor variant (MAN Lion’s Chassis E LF) will be used and configured with three passenger doors in line with the latest LTA requirements for public buses.


Technical Specifications

For the Singapore market, the low-floor variant (MAN Lion’s Chassis E LF) will be used and configured with three passenger doors in line with the latest LTA requirements for public buses.

MAN Lion’s Chassis E LF
Electric Driveline Electric motor
– Maximum power/torque of 240 kW / 2100 Nm
– Continuous power of 160 kW
– Single-speed adapter gearbox
Energy Storage Lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC) traction batteries
– Up to 6 battery modules of 80 kWh each (max. 480 kWh)
Lithium iron phosphate (LFP) traction batteries
– Module & capacity options TBC
Bodywork Gemilang Coachworks bodywork
EcoRange aluminium bus body; full-low-floor layout
 

Prototype Vehicle (2022):

In November 2022, MAN Truck & Bus Malaysia and Gemilang Coachworks unveiled a partially completed unit at Gemilang’s facility in Senai, Johor. Both companies expressed optimism in supplying the regional market with these electric buses. MAN Malaysia announced its intention to assemble the eBus chassis locally to enhance its cost competitiveness.

In May 2023, a prototype MAN Lion’s City E in a right-hand drive (RHD), two-door configuration was sighted within the premises of Gemilang Coachworks. Specifications point to this unit being destined for the Singapore or Oceania market.  This bus might have also been the same unit showcased to the media in November 2022.

This bus would be sighted in TĂĽrkiye in August 2023, bearing the registration plate 06 T 80281 (original Instagram post by Mersin OtobĂĽsleri removed). The bus was used as a test vehicle by MAN Turkey, and its registration prefix ’06’ indicates its registration in Ankara, where MAN Turkey is based. With the bulk of MAN’s bus production based in Ankara, the MAN electric bus could have been shipped there for testing and homologation works.


2-Door Prototype Vehicle for Singapore (2024)

In February 2024, a LinkedIn post by Heinz Kiess (linkedin.com), Head of Product Marketing Bus at MAN, revealed the first MAN electric bus prototype for the Singapore market. He also mentioned that the bus “will soon be tested on the streets of Singapore”.

The post also highlights MAN’s longstanding partnership with Gemilang Coachworks in meeting specific requirements of the Asian market, and expresses optimism for the bus’ success in Asia.

The bodywork design bears resemblance to the MAN Lion’s City E integral bus introduced in 2018. Additionally, specifications unique to Singapore are evident, such as the CFMS mounting and blue coinbox, while the Luminator electronic display sign is also commonly found on Singapore buses. The bus also features a camera mirror system in place of traditional wing mirrors.

On 29 February 2024, the bus was delivered to ST Engineering Mobility Services, located at Corporation Road. This bus is fitted with 2 doors.


Gallery:

 


See Also:
Other 3-Door electric buses in Singapore:

References:

15 thoughts on “MAN Electric Bus for Singapore

  • 25 February 2024 at 9:19 PM
    Permalink

    This one should be a MAN Lion’s City 12 E SD 3-Door. This demonstrator unit should soon be registered as SG4011E and distributed to SBS Transit (depot TBC).

    Reply
    • 5 March 2024 at 10:26 PM
      Permalink

      ps its a mockup not the actual bus.

      Reply

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