MVG Munich: 21 new MAN electric articulated buses in service

by Editorial | UTM

Stadtwerke München (SWM) is putting 21 new electric articulated buses into service for the Munich Transport Company (MVG) these days. MAN Truck & Bus Se supplied its Lion’s City 18 E model. “This number is the largest tranche of electric buses that MVG has taken delivery of so far. With the e-buses already in place, MVG’s electric bus fleet will grow to a total of 47 vehicles. By 2035, we want to operate our bus transport completely electrically. In this way, we are actively shaping the traffic turnaround in Munich and making the city quieter, cleaner and more liveable,” says Ingo Wortmann, MVG CEO and SWM Managing Director Mobility.

Following an EU-wide tender for 21 electric articulated buses, SWM awarded the contract for production and delivery to the most economically advantageous supplier, MAN, on the basis of the award criteria. The new buses are characterized by a modern and redesigned interior. The engine tower installed in the rear area of diesel buses is omitted in the electric version, which means that the rearmost rows of seats offer more space. With a total capacity of 640 kWh, the nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) batteries take the buses up to 250 km. The centre and rear axles are driven by a central motor.

For air conditioning, a CO2 air conditioning system is on board the new vehicles, which significantly reduces energy consumption compared to conventional systems. CO2 is environmentally friendly and has a comparatively low GWP value (Global Warming Potential Index). In addition, the built-in heat pump also uses the properties of the CO2 refrigerant to optimally heat the passenger compartment in winter.

The buses are 62% financed by public subsidies. The corresponding support is provided by the City of Munich from the Integrated Action Programme for the Promotion of Electromobility in Munich (IHFEM), the Government of Upper Bavaria within the framework of the Bavarian Municipal Transport Financing Act, and from the Bavarian State Ministry of Transport. Municipal Transport Financing Act and from the Air Pollution Control Programme with funds from the Bavarian State Ministry of Housing, Construction and Transport. State Ministry for Housing, Construction and Transport as well as the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection from the special assets of the “Energy and Climate Fund”.

More e-buses to follow

Another 14 electric buses from the manufacturer Ebusco are also expected this year; these vehicles are also 18-metre articulated buses. MVG’s e-bus fleet will thus grow to 61 vehicles by the end of the year. A further 71 e-buses have already been ordered, we reported here:
https://www.urban-transport-magazine.com/en/71-more-electric-buses-for-munichs-mvg/´.

In order to be prepared for the ongoing electrification of the fleet, SWM/MVG opened the new Moosach bus depot in November 2022, where up to 56 e-buses can currently be charged. The further gradual expansion of the charging infrastructure has already been prepared during construction. Charging facilities for e-buses are also already available at the bus depot in the east of Munich.

(Info: SWM/MVG)