| MAN Lion’s City E | |
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| Manufacturer | MAN (chassis) |
| Bodywork | Gemilang Coachworks |
| Years in operation | Arrived in Singapore in 2024 (2-Door) |
| Operators | Leisure Frontier |
| Technical Data | |
| Length | 12 metre |
| Motor | Electric motor |
| Battery | TBC |
| Accessibility | Low Floor |
| Emission Standard | Zero tailpipe emissions |
The MAN Lion’s City E is an electric low-floor city bus offered by MAN. While sold as an integral bus in European markets, for the Singapore market, the bus is built on the MAN Lion’s Chassis E LF chassis and assembled in Malaysia by Gemilang Coachworks.
A two-door prototype vehicle was delivered to Singapore in early 2024 and unveiled to the media on 29 August 2024. This unit was purchased by private transport operator Leisure Frontier. A three-door version designed for Singapore’s public transport is also in the works.
The introduction of the MAN Lion’s City E in Singapore represents MAN’s debut in Singapore’s electric bus market, coinciding with Singapore’s drive towards a cleaner public bus fleet. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) also plans to have half of all public buses to be electric by 2030.
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.
Technical Specifications
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.
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 |
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| 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 |
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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.
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 Türkiye in August 2023, bearing the registration plate 06 T 80281 (original Instagram post by Mersin Otobüsleri since deleted). 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 a 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.
Social media post (Click to expand)On 29 February 2024, the bus was delivered to ST Engineering Mobility Services, located at Corporation Road. This bus is fitted with 2 doors.
Social media post (Click to expand)Formal unveil
This bus would later be formally unveiled at a showcase event on 29 August 2024, held at the ST Engineering Hub.
ST Engineering described the bus as the very first right-hand drive electric bus from MAN, with Singapore being the first country to receive it. It has a total battery capacity of approximately 480kWh; the largest capacity option offered by MAN. All traction batteries are roof-mounted to prevent damage in the event of collisions, said ST Engineering.
The bus is also the first in Singapore to use digital cameras in place of side mirrors, with displays inside the bus providing the driver with an enhanced field of vision for improved safety.
The first unit was purchased by private transport operator Leisure Frontier for $600,000, excluding the certificate of entitlement cost. Leisure Frontier managing director Terence Ng said the company will start using the new electric bus in the fourth quarter of 2024 for shuttle services for malls, offices and army camps.
Public Bus model
Back in November 2022 at this article’s time of publishing, this website reported that 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 would likely be 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’. However, no such 3-door prototypes emerged, and the two-door prototype vehicle unveiled in Singapore in 2024 did not enter revenue service trials with LTA, possibly due to LTA’s increasing preference for public buses with three passenger doors.
Like the Scania 2-door electric bus, European bus models are designed for a predominantly left-hand-drive (LHD) market, and have drivetrain components positioned on the left side to allow for a three-door layout on the right side. However, this design choice hinders the addition of a third door for right-hand-drive (RHD) markets.
Firm Commitment
In an ST Engineering press release on 30 August 2024, MAN and ST Engineering have firmly committed to delivering a three-door MAN electric bus that meets the latest LTA requirements for public buses.
The solution will feature the low-floor variant of MAN’s Lion’s Chassis E and configured with three passenger doors. It will also be equipped with an advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) powered by ST Engineering’s AGIL® DriveSafe+ technology.
Gallery:
See Also:
Other 3-Door electric buses in Singapore:
- BYD B12
- CRRC TEG6125BEV03
- LexSWITCH E12 SD
- Linkker LM312
- Volvo BZL – SC Neustar City
- Zhongtong LCK6126EVG
References:
- MAN Starts Series Production Of The All-Electric Lion City E (insideevs.com)
- Electric bus solutions for the global market: MAN drives forward sustainable mobility (mantruckandbus.com)
- Down Under: MAN Lion’s Chassis E celebrates world premiere in Sydney (mantruckandbus.com)
- 12336_MAN_eMobility_Broschuere_E_screen03.pdf (neoplan.se)
- MAN Malaysia Offers eBus Electric Bus Chassis From 2023 – Auto News – Caricarz
- MAN Malaysia showcases electric city bus chassis to drive sustainable mobility in Malaysian public transport sector (nst.com.my)
- MAN Truck and Bus Singapore Facebook Post
- ST Engineering and MAN unveil new electric bus in drive for cleaner bus fleet | The Straits Times
Very sad this bus is going to be used by a private bus operator. Should have been given to SBST or SMRT Buses instead. If this was in the past, it’s an automatic deployment to SBS or SMRT.
I hope this bus gets deployed to sbst sedep and deployed to either 138 or 269.
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).
ps its a mockup not the actual bus.