Two battery repair centres are already in operation in Germany (Hannover-Lacen) and Spain (Barcelona). In 2024 and 2025, MAN Truck & Bus will establish battery repair centres in Italy, Denmark, Norway, Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Poland and the UK, with other European countries planned. Millions of dollars of investment will be made over the next two years.
The deployment of battery repair centres in Europe is necessary because the first units of the new MAN eTruck generation will be delivered to customers in 2024. More than 1,000 MAN electric city buses and more than 2,400 MAN all-electric vans are already on the roads in Europe. As MAN eTruck production ramps up, the population of electric vehicles will continue to grow and they will need to be well maintained.
The first MAN Truck & Bus battery repair centre was opened in 2020. The first pilot repairs and process documentation were carried out for the battery of the MAN eTGE electric van, which was launched on the market in 2018. This was followed by the battery packs of the MAN eTGM delivery truck, launched in small series from 2020, and the start of series production of the MAN Lion's City E electric city bus - also in 2020. The repair phases were tried out. Employees were trained in all aspects of battery handling, repair instructions were drawn up and workplace requirements were defined.
This knowledge gained at the first MAN battery repair centre in Hanover-Lacen is now being transferred to other markets. In future, battery repair centres will operate in every market in which MAN is represented by commercial vehicles powered by electric traction. Trained specialists on site ensure that the battery is repaired quickly. This results in less vehicle downtime.
The battery repair centre MAN Service Centre must meet certain criteria, which are derived from practical experience and the legal standards of the countries concerned. Suitable high-voltage and special tools are required. In addition, the electricians working there must have special protective equipment. The premises also fulfil certain requirements such as access control, double doors, air conditioning, powerful ventilation, a 400 V socket and a load crane.
MAN's goal is to utilise the vehicle battery for as long as possible. Since 2023, the company has been participating in the REVAMP project, a consortium of nine partners from industry and science. This three-year project aims to automate the process of assessing the condition of used car batteries. With this knowledge, batteries should be cost-effectively remanufactured so that they can then be used in a vehicle (2nd life) or for another purpose (2nd life).
Source: MAN
