MAN Truck and Bus has revealed its all-new Lion’s Chassis E LF, a fully electric low-floor chassis, at the Australasia Bus and Coach Expo in Sydney.
Based on the MAN Lion City E, which was recently voted International Bus of the Year 2023, the Lion E LF chassis complements MAN’s existing diesel bus offering on the Australian market.
“We are thrilled to be unveiling MAN’s all-new electric chassis to the Australian market for the first time,” Penske Australia head of MAN bus and coach Crinel Geaboc.
“Both Penske Australia and MAN Truck and Bus have firm strategies to be recognised as industry leaders in the electric space.
“With a history of strong bus and coach offerings with our innovative Euro 6 engines, the new Lion’s Chassis E LF rounds out our portfolio to include zero emission solutions for our customers.
“We know the industry has deadlines over the coming years to convert their fleets to electric technology, and with the Lion’s Chassis E LF, we’re in a position to make their transition straightforward.
“We’ve already seen great results with the MAN Lion’s City E in Europe. It was recently awarded International Bus of the Year 2023 by European trade journalists. The bus is reliable and efficient on the streets of many cities across Europe and has received more than 1,000 orders since the start of production in 2020.
“This success in Europe combined with MAN’s ongoing investment in electric technology, such as the establishment of a large-scale battery production facility in Nuremberg, and the strong partnership Penske provides locally, all deliver confidence that our customers can count on,” he says.
In addition to the Lion’s Chassis E LF, MAN’s stand at the Australasia Bus and Coach Expo includes the low entry RC2 chassis powered by MAN’s 330 hp D15 engine and equipped with a Custom Denning body.
The display also includes the intercity/coach RR8 chassis powered by the first MAN 360 hp D15 engine in Australia and is fitted with an Irizar i6s coach body.
The new Lion’s Chassis E LF will undertake performance and compliance testing in the local operating environment in 2023.
The 2.55m wide chassis is expected to be available in 2023, with the 2.5m wide chassis to follow in early 2024.
Pictured above with the new Lion’Chassis E LF at the Australasia Bus & Coach expo are (L to R:)
- Lutz Siebeling, product management & body builder development manager, MAN Truck & Bus
- Sylvain Messiant, head of sales bus international, MAN Truck & Bus
- Christian Fischer, VP head of sales management and international key accounts – bus, MAN Truck & Bus
- Craig Lee, executive general manager – on-highway, Penske Australia
- Crinel Geaboc, head of bus and coach, Penske Australia
