In Germany's Bavarian capital, 21 new electric articulated buses will go into regular service for the Munich Transport Authority (MVG) in the next few days. The public transport operator is celebrating the service with zero tailpipe emissions as a further step towards its goal of 100 percent emission-free services.

These are the 21 MAN Lion's City E articulated buses ordered about a year ago. According to MVG, MAN was the most economically advantageous supplier at the time and was therefore able to win the tender. With the electric buses already in service, MVG's electric bus fleet has grown to 47 vehicles.

"This number is the largest tranche of electric buses that MVG has received to date." explains Ingo Wortmann, CEO of MVG and Managing Director of SWM Mobility.

62 percent of the buses are financed through public funding. The funds are being provided by the City of Munich, the Government of Upper Bavaria, the Bavarian State Ministry (Clean Air Program) and the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection as part of the special "Energy and Climate Fund".

With the new additions and the existing e-buses, MVG's electric bus fleet will grow to a total of 47 vehicles.

The MAN Lion's City E is equipped with a 640 kWh nickel-manganese-cobalt battery and has a range of 250 kilometers. The batteries are mounted on the roof of the vehicle. According to MGV, the new electric articulated buses have a modern and redesigned interior. The public transport operator points out that the absence of the engine tower found on diesel buses means more space for the rear rows, "and at the same time a more airy feeling of space".

A further 14 articulated electric buses from Ebusco are expected this year, bringing the fleet to 61 electric buses by the end of the year. By 2035, MVG plans to run its bus service entirely on electric power.

Source: SWM