Lion’s Coach wins Sustainable Bus of the Year
Lion’s Coach wins Sustainable Bus of the Year
MAN’s Lion’s Coach has been named the winner of the “Sustainable Bus of the Year 2022” award in the coach category.
“We are delighted that the MAN Lion’s Coach has impressed the expert jury and won the Sustainable Bus of the Year 2022 award. After all, it is the first and only European award that recognises the topic of sustainability in the city bus, intercity bus and coach sector,” says Rudi Kuchta, head of business unit bus at MAN Truck & Bus, who accepted the award at a digital event. “It also acknowledges our tireless commitment to environmentally friendly solutions – we are proud of that.”
The award is one of the most sought-after awards in the bus and coach industry and is a clear statement that the MAN Lion’s Coach is not only a reliable and safe vehicle, but also an economical and sustainable one, says Kuchta: “The experts appreciate this, but so do our customers; the Lion’s Coach is now in use all over Europe and further afield.”
Sophisticated solutions and efficiency impress jury
The trade press jury, representing eight European countries, was impressed by several aspects of the MAN Lion’s Coach. For example, the longest version of the state-of-the-art coach is just under 14 m long and can accommodate up to 61 passengers, equating to minimal CO2 emissions per passenger. What’s more, the jury’s verdict states that the MAN D26 engine, which meets the Euro 6e standard and generates up to 510 hp (375 kW) of power, is 100% compatible with alternative fuels such as HVO and bio-diesel.
Maximum possible torque can also be achieved even at very low engine speeds, producing an enormously positive effect on the vehicle’s overall efficiency, while new-generation seats made from recycled materials also impressed the jury.
The topic of MAN DigitalServices was another decisive factor. These services can be used with the aid of the “RIO Box”, which has been fitted as standard since October 2019. The digital services help to keep track of and optimise all cost factors impacting on total cost of ownership (TCO), from optimal tour planning all the way through to maintenance management. This is made possible by the forward-looking planning and intelligent grouping of maintenance appointments, which ensure maximum vehicle availability.
“The fact that the MAN Lion’s Coach is the vehicle that has constantly impressed for a number of years with its high reliability and low fuel consumption – and is a clear champion when it comes to the total cost of ownership – is also due in no small part to these services,” says Kuchta.
Safety par excellence
The Lion’s Coach also sets standards in terms of safety for drivers, passengers, and road users. With the help of the world’s first mirror replacement system for coaches, MAN OptiView, the driver has a full view of the blind spot: two cameras on each side of the vehicle project its side and rear areas onto two monitors inside the vehicle in real-time, displaying a larger area than conventional exterior mirrors. Additional safety is ensured, among other things, by the active warning turning assistant with pedestrian detection, a speed limit indicator, and automatic traffic sign recognition. The new PCV (Premium Comfort Valve) shock absorber technology and optimised chassis configuration also guarantee greater driving comfort, improved handling, and greater safety reserves.
To offer customers the greatest possible freedom, the Lion’s Coach is available in four lengths, with two or three axles. Its maximum overall permitted weight of up to 19,5 tonnes, meanwhile, contributes to its flexibility in terms of possible applications for coach operators.
The Lion’s Coach also meets high standards in terms of economic efficiency: its economical driving performance is owed in part to the optimised Euro 6 driveline and the automated MAN TipMatic Coach manually-operated gearbox. This employs MAN’s own start-up and gearshift strategy, which is optimally configured for the D26 engines. The interplay between the components in the new driveline makes the vehicle particularly efficient and contributes to its low fuel consumption. Alongside many other individual measures, this ensures that the MAN Lion’s Coach is extremely safe and versatile, thus making the bus operator’s business far more straightforward.
The MAN Lion’s Coach is not the only vehicle to impress the experts when it comes to sustainability: the MAN TGX was named Sustainable Truck of the Year 2022. At the end of October last year, the 510 hp variant of MAN’s flagship truck received the award in the “semitrailer tractor” category at the Ecomondo trade fair in Italy.
The jury at this, one of Europe’s leading trade fairs for sustainable and regenerative recycling management, praised the TGX 18.510 for being particularly fuel-efficient, economical, and environmentally-friendly. “The aim of the Sustainability Award is to create positive awareness for sustainability,” says Kuchta. “This can also be achieved, of course, with innovative vehicles such as the MAN Lion’s Coach and the MAN TGX.”
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