The MAN Electrifying Europe Tour starts in Munich on April 29. Ten days later, it ends in Limerick, where the MAN Lion’s City 12 E will compete in the “International Bus Euro Test 2022”. On its journey from Germany to Ireland, the all-electric city bus will travel through cities, over countryside, and through mountains – demonstrating how e-mobility already functions on Europe’s roads in a way that is suitable for everyday use.
Eight countries, ten days, more than 2,500 kilometers: On Friday, the “Electrifying Europe Tour” starts in Munich. The main protagonist is the MAN Lion’s City 12 E, which will travel from the Bavarian capital via Innsbruck, St. Moritz, Vaduz, Zurich, Strasbourg, Luxembourg, Brussels, Rouen, and Cherbourg to Limerick, where the tour will end on May 8, 2022. This is because the “International Bus Euro Test 2022” will be held there from May 9 to 12, 2022, in which MAN will be participating with the all-electric city bus.
“With the tour, we want to show that it is already possible to be emission-free, reliable, and suitable for everyday use throughout Europe,” says Rudi Kuchta, Head of Business Unit Bus at MAN Truck & Bus, adding, “To do this, our team will visit metropolises, undertake cross-country journeys, and even cross an Alpine pass. In this way, our eBus can demonstrate that it is always sustainable and reliable on the road under a wide range of conditions and that it has more than enough energy even for demanding routes.”
MAN also wants to send a signal for a peaceful Europe on the tour. That’s why the city bus was branded with blue and yellow design elements in reference to the colors of the Ukraine flag. “Buses transport and connect people across borders and nationalities. The design shows that we at MAN stand by the side of people who are in need because of the war in Ukraine,” Kuchta makes clear. The commitment of MAN employees is correspondingly great. Since the outbreak of the war, they have helped those affected in a variety of ways: For example, they donated 100,000 euros, collected relief supplies, organized transports, and offered direct assistance to the refugees. In addition, MAN provides vehicles to support aid organizations wherever possible.
