CONFERENCE DAYS 2023: MAN announces electric coaches starting from 2026

By 2026, MAN aims to provide a first fleet of electric coaches to selected customers for testing. This was reported by Heinz Kiess (Head of Product Marketing Bus) at the HUSS-VERLAG Conference Days on the topic "Sustainable and Innovative: MAN Bus Technology for the Mobility of Tomorrow". In the first step, without the yet to be established megawatt charging infrastructure (MCS) for long-distance travel, deployments in the shuttle service and excursion areas are feasible, according to Kiess. MAN already predicts a share of 42% for electric drives in total coach sales in Europe by 2030. Fuel cell coaches would then lag far behind with around 8% share, while diesel at 50% would still be slightly ahead. But from 2031, the ratio would reverse.

Great Challenges

Of course, the challenges are significant: The many consumers in the coach, from thermal management to the on-board kitchen, require high power consumption in addition to the actual vehicle drive and thus a relatively large battery capacity. Therefore, Kiess sees the electric drive first in a three-axle vehicle, which has more leeway in terms of axle and total weight. In response to a participant's question at the Conference Days event, the MAN manager explained that luggage compartment capacity might be sacrificed to accommodate battery modules.

Question of Charging Management

Another challenge with the electric coach is future charging. MAN prefers plug-in charging over pantographs or charging rails because it is more flexible, as the coach stops at various charging points on its tours – at rest areas as well as at hotels or recreational facilities. Kiess does not see an increase in charging power, as many automakers are currently aiming for or already implementing (from 400 to 800 V), as necessary for the e-bus, as its high-voltage system already operates at a voltage of 700 to 800 V, thus answering a participant's question. However, a change in charging management would require the CO₂ air conditioning system initially used by MAN in city buses. While the compressor of a conventional heat pump can still be supplied via the 24-V on-board voltage, the compressor of a CO₂ heat pump, due to its high demands, must be necessarily connected to the HV system.

For the time being, no H₂ Coaches at MAN

Kiess ruled out the possibility of H₂ coaches at MAN. Similar to trucks, they rely almost exclusively on fully electric drives but remain open to technology. The participants of the Conference Days event saw it similarly: 67% saw the electric coach in the lead, significantly fewer with 29% the fuel cell and hydrogen burner, and only 4% e-fuels or other drives, according to a short online survey. According to Kiess, the rare green hydrogen would be better used for the decarbonization of the chemical, cement, and steel industries as well as agriculture. The more efficient, economical, and therefore best form of propulsion, however, are fully electric systems – especially since regions like Scandinavia are already fully committed to electromobility today and H₂ coaches there in the future, e.g., on the way to the North Cape, would not find any hydrogen refueling infrastructure at all.

Future of Autonomous Buses?

Dr.-Ing. Michael Roth, Head of Product Strategy Bus at MAN Truck & Bus SE, addressed the topic of autonomous buses. He continues to see significant technical challenges given complex driving situations such as intersections or people in urban environments. These are significantly higher than for 40-ton trucks that mainly operate on highways. It is also important that the vehicles must be redundant in their autonomous functions, meaning there must always be a fallback level. Initially, this can be the driver, who in the future is expected to take on other responsibilities like service and customer care on board. Connectivity is also crucial, so that the then electrically operated autonomous vehicles can independently handle processes such as charging at a depot.

Currently, MAN has entered the pilot project phase in this field – naturally always with a safety driver on board. By 2023, an autonomous Lion’s City 12 E is expected to be on the road in Berlin as part of a research project. Another project is already in preparation: by 2025, a vehicle is to be deployed in line test operations in collaboration with a system manufacturer and a German transport company.