Commercial Manufacturer MAN Shows New Electric Vehicles

Sign up for daily news updates from CleanTechnica on email. Or follow us on Google News!

MAN Truck & Bus recently announced a number of innovations, including new vehicles. At the IAA Commercial Vehicles 2018 show, the company presented a 15-ton electric delivery truck, the MAN CitE, and the MAN eTGE, an electric van. A prototype of an electric city bus, the MAN Lion City E, also was shown. It has a range of 270 kilometers per charge, and can be charged in 3 hours. The company has also developed a platooning technology which allows diesel trucks to connect to one another while driving in order to save fuel. Mr. Felix Kybart, Vice President of MAN Truck & Bus AG, answered some questions about the innovations for CleanTechnica.

1. How many all-electric vans, delivery trucks, and buses will you have in production soon, and when?

Our electric 3.5t van, the eTGE, is already in production and can be ordered at dealers today. Nine eTGM were handed over to first customers in September 2018 and we will produce further in a small series starting in Q4/2019. Serial production of eTrucks is planned for 2021. The series production of our Lion’s City E (electric city bus) will start in 2020.

2. Will they all use lithium-ion batteries?

Yes, they will.

3. Where will the batteries be sourced from?

MAN is developing the battery packs in-house and produces them in Germany. Cells / cell modules are currently sourced from Korean suppliers.

4. What will the MAN CitE be used to deliver?

The CitE is purpose-designed for inner city delivery. With its low entry and flat cabin floor, multiple applications can be realized. This for example, is for cooled groceries, urban deliveries, as a garbage truck or for parcel delivery.

5. How long will it take to charge?

That depends on the charging technology. With 44 kW AC you need app. 2.5 hours for a full charge of the CitE.

6. The batteries on the bus are said to be crash proof, is that because by locating them on the roof, they will not be impacted during a crash?

On the roof, the batteries are out of the usual crash areas. With this concept, we also were able to eliminate the usual engine tower in the left back of the bus, allowing now for 4 additional seats, which is the main reason to locate the battery packs on the roof.
Like all MAN battery packs, also the ones of the electric city bus are crash proof.


7. What is the range of the MAN eTGM and how long does it take to charge?

The TGM 26.360 E has a range of up to 180 km. If you charge it with 150 kW DC, a full charge takes 1.2 hours. Or said the other way, in 45 min., you can charge for a further 100 km.

8. Do you have cost estimates for these all-electric vehicles, or is it too soon to reveal?

The street price of the eTGE is €69,900. Other prices will be communicated later.

9. Do you have prospective customers for them at this time, and if so, who are they?

eTGE: 2018 production sold out. For all above mentioned products, our customers show an overwhelming interest across Europe and also overseas.

10. Is the platooning intended to work only with your electric vehicles? Is the idea that the owner would have several vehicles and they would join together on common routes to become more energy efficient?

No, the platooning currently works with diesel-powered trucks. In a wider frame the idea is that different trucks (different manufacturers, different companies) join for a platoon on the motorway in order to save fuel.

11. Does the technology manage the platooning, or does the driver have some inputs to attach to another truck?

The driver merely has to accept if another truck wants to follow him in a platoon. The technology manages the rest of the work.

12. Does the joining happen while the trucks are in motion?

Yes. The platoon forms while driving on the motorway.


13. Will your EVs only be available in Europe or will they be coming to North America at some point?

So far, we intend to sell them in Europe only. However, the drivetrain technology would also suit North American requirements.

Image Credit: MAN


Have a tip for CleanTechnica? Want to advertise? Want to suggest a guest for our CleanTech Talk podcast? Contact us here.

Latest CleanTechnica TV Video


Advertisement
 
CleanTechnica uses affiliate links. See our policy here.

Jake Richardson

Hello, I have been writing online for some time, and enjoy the outdoors. If you like, you can follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/JakeRsol

Jake Richardson has 1021 posts and counting. See all posts by Jake Richardson