The first series-produced eCoach from MAN Truck & Bus is in the starting blocks. The battery-electric coach is celebrating its premiere at this year’s Busworld. Production is scheduled to start in 2026 at the MAN plant in Ankara, Türkiye. Heinz Kiess, Head of Product Marketing Bus at MAN Truck & Bus, explains about the challenges of the market launch, green tourism, new target groups and an impressive driving experience.
The MAN Lion's Coach E is the world's first fully electric coach from a major European manufacturer. Is the time ripe for an all-electric coach?
"Yes, we are convinced of that. Firstly, the EU has set strict CO2 targets for heavy commercial vehicles. These are to reduce their average emissions by 45 percent by 2030. In order to meet these requirements and because we are pursuing a clear zero-emission strategy for all vehicles in our portfolio, we have consistently focussed on the electrification of touring traffic for a long time. Our aim is to provide our customers with the best possible support, give them comprehensive advice and offer them innovative solutions. Many of our customers have already clearly signalled to us that they have a need for a fully electric coach."
What are the challenges of the market launch of the MAN eCoach?
"There is a great deal of heterogeneity in Europe when it comes to electromobility. In Scandinavia in particular, especially Norway, a large number of electric buses are already in successful operation. The basis for this is a nationwide charging infrastructure and the provision of subsidies. These are a key means of incentivising purchases. As an industry, we need to rethink this and work together to motivate politicians to create new incentives for entrepreneurs. Our customers need investment security and planning certainty when it comes to energy prices. Coaches are usually in operation for between six and twelve years, and the price of energy is a key lever for the total cost of ownership (TCO). Our aim is to achieve cost parity with diesel buses."
What efforts does the development of the all-electric coach entail?
"The development of such an innovative vehicle is of course a challenge. However, we had the great advantage of being able to build on an excellent basis and utilise mature technologies. The MAN Lion's Coach has already been in successful use for many years, so we haven't changed much about the vehicle itself. We have also made a major electronic leap forward with the new electronics platform from model year 2024 for our MAN and NEOPLAN buses. The new platform enables all components and control units to communicate with each other in the vehicle. For the e-drive - i.e. the central motor and batteries - we were able to draw on the tried-and-tested technology of MAN's truck series. This means that our eCoach consists of truck and bus components that already have proven themselves. This has enormous advantages for our customers also because a service network for the MAN eTruck and eCoach throughout Europe is established."
Has the experience over the years with the all-electric city bus, been of benefit?
"Definitely. We have now pooled our cumulative experience from the MAN Lion's City E and eTruck into the all-electric coach. We have already proven once that we can take off with an all-electric bus - back then with the city bus during the coronavirus pandemic under difficult conditions. All employees are highly motivated and can hardly wait to launch our eCoach and see it on the road. It is a historic milestone and a great success to go down in the history of the coach manufacturing industry as the first major European manufacturer of a fully electric coach."
What advantages does the eCoach offer companies?
"For two years now, we have been in close dialogue with a number of customers regarding the challenges posed by electrified travel and their requirements for our vehicle. Like us, their aim is to upgrade the coach and position it as a modern and sustainable vehicle. The CO2 footprint is playing an increasingly important role. In addition, the eCoach is a real opportunity for coach tourism to reach new target groups for whom sustainability is also a key factor in travel planning. In the past, long-distance coach providers have already given the image of coaches a positive boost and encouraged younger people to travel by coach. By electrifying travel, much more can be achieved here, and green accents can be set in both the coach and tourism industries."
What do you personally find exciting about the MAN eCoach?
"The driving experience! And that's what it's all about for us, we want to offer our customers a noticeable change. It was an incredible feeling the first time I was allowed to drive this eCoach. It is so quiet, it feels like floating over the road. You sit in this big coach, step on the gas, feel this enormous power, but you can't hear the engine. It's really impressive, even the driver's workstation. Our team has managed to design it almost identically to the cockpit in our diesel buses; drivers do not have to get used to it and will continue to benefit from our sophisticated and user-friendly concept. The central display provides them with all the important information regarding range and driving style. I am convinced that the driving experience in the eCoach will inspire drivers and passengers."