It happened in 2008, the gamble to bring a double-decker bus to Moscow was started by the official MAN dealer - MAN Automobiles Russia. After all, they resumed the operation of “double deckers” in Berlin. Someone even remembered that the Moscow government advocated the resumption of "two-story routes." There remained sheer nonsense: to combine desires and possibilities in time and space. At the same time, it turned out to be possible to show the bus at the ComTrans exhibition in 2008, what if someone else is interested?
The MAN ND313 Lion's City DD double-decker bus at KomTrans did not go unnoticed and played the role of a show-stopper in the MAN bus exposition. It is not every day that you see the famous German two-deck building in Moscow (they are not as famous as the London two-deck buildings, but have long become a symbol of Berlin). The editors of one automobile magazine also became interested in a double-decker bus, but not as an exotic, but with a desire to check its consumer properties in a test drive format. The representatives of the magazine wanted to draw their own conclusions about the prospects for using this type of rolling stock in Russia.
They were not denied acquaintance with the bus, but the problem with a walk on a double decker arose immediately. The overall height of this monster for a good ten centimeters crawls out of the allowed size of 4 meters. Consequently, trips to all four directions on this bus are impossible: in a good way, its route must be coordinated with the traffic police and receive special permission for this. In practice, this means that the permanent route of a regular bus in the city will need to be “fixed” with a lot of authorities, and any deviation from it or a change in the route will be punished. The representatives of the magazine also had to limit themselves to traffic only in closed areas, without going onto public roads. But even in this case, they had to carefully look up, so as not to accidentally touch the stupidly stretched communications wires. You can't even imagine how many of these wires hang over your heads! But if we simply don’t notice them on an ordinary bus or truck, then on a moving skyscraper, looking for sagging air networks has become the meaning of the whole trip! From the side it seemed that we really considered a raven in the sky. With their heads up, they did not see the danger on the ground!
A small hill, a trifling slope, which you would not notice in another car, turned out to be a stumbling block for the German double decker. Having almost completely descended from a small mound, the bus abruptly stood up, as if rooted to the spot. The engine continued to rumble, the drive wheels - to rotate, but he does not go! What kind of jokes are these?! We go out to assess the situation outside and observe an incredible spectacle. At the exit from the slope, the rear overhang of the bus “rested” on the asphalt. It's good that the driver of the company was driving, and not a representative of the magazine, otherwise they would have got all the bumps ... The rear supporting axle was completely drowned and hung out our middle drive axle. As a result, the suspended wheels rotate stupidly, transferring torque ... to the air.
Attempts to rescue the bus from the captivity of the roller coasters on their own did not bring success. On the contrary, there was a real danger of spoiling his stern. For a laugh, someone even suggested pushing the car with their shoulders: they say, we’ll pile on the whole world and ka-a-ak we’ll go! But evil power is out of place here. I had to resort to outside help, since a suitable jack was found in a nearby truck service station. It was slipped into a reference point between the rear and middle axles. But instead of raising the stern of the bus, the jack smoothly sank into the asphalt, like a vacationer's foot into beach sand. And what do you want: 16 tons make themselves felt! Onlookers appeared and began to advise their ways of solving the problem. Some advocated pulling the truck, others offered to lift the stern with a crane, others simply caught flies for the company and agreed with each of the versions. After a dozen unsuccessful attempts, the joint efforts of repairmen and drivers managed to jack up the bus properly. But then the following “ambush” arose: raising the left corner of the stern, MAN rested on the asphalt with a diagonal right front corner. There was a hopeless situation. A smoke break, thinking about the situation, listening to the versions of the council, again a smoke break ...
Rescued controlled air suspension. Playing on the pneumatic muscles of the undercarriage, we managed to win a few saving centimeters. They still pulled the bus out of captivity, but it was a good lesson - for such a large and heavy car, even a small difference in the height of the roadway can become a real trap. Her role could be played by a speed bump, a pothole in the roadway, a curbstone. And a small incident enriched our experience with double deckers. Actually, the test drive could have ended there, since it became absolutely clear that Russia, with its own destinations, was not ready to receive such high-ranking guests. But interest in everything little studied only inflamed courage. After all, there were still a lot of questions that needed to be answered. For example: how do passengers feel on the first, and especially on the second floor of a double decker? How did German designers manage to fit 83 passenger seats, two stairs, a large storage area, places and ramps for wheelchair users, a comfortable driver's seat and a huge power unit into one car without compromising passenger comfort? And how unpromising is the very idea of two storey buildings in your native Fatherland?
Exploring the interior of the German liner, they were amazed at how well everything was thought out and done in a human way. Why can't ours do it? I would advise all Russian designers responsible for the layout of our buses to spend one day of their lives and carefully study the MAN ND313 Lion's City DD. I think that this is a masterpiece in planning and there is a lot to learn here. Take at least the location of the rear double seats on the first floor, arranged vis-a-vis. Or the shape and location of bright handrails. Surprisingly, it is a fact: they are always at hand, no matter where you are in the cabin, and it is easy for a passenger of any height to reach them, and not just “Uncle Styopa”. At the same time, they do not interfere with leaving places located on high ramps, unlike domestic buses. In ours, people with a height of more than 180 centimeters constantly beat their heads against them. The first floor is not much different from ordinary city buses, except that the ceiling is noticeably lower, but this does not interfere with free movement around the cabin.
Another thing is envious: with such a difficult task as the layout of a double decker, the MAN designers, with all the compromises, created a completely low-floor liner in the lower floor - there are no steps along its entire length! Moreover, two of the three entrances are equipped with ramps for wheelchairs, and a wide passage between the seats allows the disabled person to move around the cabin in a wheelchair. In the middle part of the bus there is a huge storage area with folding seats. Few people - you can sit down, and if there is a crowd, then folding strapontens will free up space for a couple of additional passengers. Stairs are of particular interest. In the 1930s, one of the main complaints about the double-decker EEC Guy and YaTB-3 trolleybuses plying around Moscow was the presence of only one narrow and steep staircase, which caused confusion during peak hours, since two passengers on it could not disperse.
With this bus, this problem is minimized - there are two stairs, they are wider so that they sideways miss each other with an oncoming passenger. The second floor is completely given over to seating - it is forbidden to stand there while driving. Firstly, it is inconvenient for passengers, since the cabin height on the second floor is only 170 cm, and secondly, the driver monitors compliance with the strict rule through a video camera. There is a rational grain in this, since standing passengers on the second floor increase the center of gravity of the bus, and therefore cornering stability decreases. Crown places of the second floor, of course, at a windshield. Unprecedented driving sensations - above all trucks and neighboring buses - are incomparable with anything! Now it is clear why many double-decker city buses are used as tourist, sightseeing and interregional buses - the view from the second floor is amazing. The delight of being elevated above the traffic and the hustle and bustle of the city allows you to relax and enjoy the cityscapes.
For the driver, driving the bus is as easy as possible - it has an automatic gearbox with three buttons Drive, Neutral, Revers, a powerful power steering and two pedals: travel and brake. Everything is tailored for the driver: less tired and distracted. As is customary in warm Europe: the driver's seat is separated only by a small barrier instead of a blank bulkhead, and he, meeting passengers, sells them tickets. To do this, he has a cash register and money trays right at his fingertips, on the barrier. The steering column is adjusted along with the instrument panel. Of the instruments in front of my eyes, only a speedometer combined with a tachograph, and all other information about the systems of the liner is displayed on the information display, moreover, as the information is in demand, without distracting the driver’s attention over trifles.
At the disposal of the captain of the land vessel and a color monitor above the windshield, on which, depending on the situation, video information is automatically transmitted. When the bus stops at the stop, you can watch the far entrance area. If the bus picks up speed, the monitor shows the situation on the second floor. And if the driver decides to reverse during maneuvering, then the image on the screen will be transmitted from the rear external camera. It remains only to envy the German bus drivers, and wait for such a complete set of city liners to become the norm for domestic fleets.
City bus A78:
Engine - MAN (280 hp),
Euro 4, ZF automatic gearbox,
Number of seats for passengers and crew: 35,
Estimated total number of passengers: 95.
Fuel tank: 125 + 175 l., EBS, ABS, TCS.,
Air conditioning, climatic version - 35 C,
CD/radio
Specifications MAN Lion's City A78
Class - urban low entry
Wheel formula - 4 x 2.
Door formula 2-2-0
The location of the engine is rear, longitudinal, vertical.
Maximum speed in top gear at full weight, km/h 85 (limiter)
Dimensional and weight parameters of the city man bus
Length: 11,857 mm
Width: 2550 mm
Height: 3088 mm
Base: 5 725 mm
Gross weight: 18,000 kg
man bus capacity
Number of passenger seats: 35
Estimated total number of passengers: up to 100
city man bus engine
Engine
MAN D0836 LOH 55 Euro 4
Power: 206 kW (280 hp)
Gearbox Automatic transmission ZF 6 AP 1200 EcoLife with integrated retarder
Axles MAN, i=5.57
Fuel system MAN city bus
Fuel filters heated.
Additional fuel filter Separ - 2000, heated.
Suspension Front dependent, with 2 air springs, 2 shock absorbers with built-in rebound and stabilizer.
Rear dependent, with 4 air springs and 4 shock absorbers with built-in rebound.
Kneeling system
Fuel tank 125 + 175 l., filler neck on the right side.
Brakes Pneumatic, 2-circuit, disc, asbestos-free, rear wheel energy accumulators, lining wear sensors, EBS, ABS, TCS.
Steering e
Integral steering gear ZF 8098,
Steering column tilt adjustment.
Body
All-metal, welded, closed, low-floor, load-bearing, wagon layout with 2 doors, galvanized sheet on the sides, roof, steps and wheel arches. It has a tiktyl, anti-corrosion coating. It has a soundproof coating. Painted with acrylic paint RAL 9010 color white
Glazing, mirrors Windshield, laminated glass without tinting.
Side and door glazing with safety double-glazed windows, electric heating of the windshield, mirrors, driver's windows
Salon
Seats City Schale color gray upholstery color blue, equipped place for the carriage of a stroller, mechanical folding ramp, plastic side wall lining, flooring Altro Cortina BX 191002 light blue wear-resistant with abrasive, 4 speakers
Man bus interior layout
Driver's workplace
Heated Grammer MSG seat, electric sunblind, additional heater, air conditioning, Blaupunkt microphone, DTCO tachograph, CD+MP3, Blaupunkt amplifier, 2 speakers
Heating and ventilation
Air conditioner Konvekta 32 kW, Heater Spheros Thermo 350, convectors in the passenger compartment, three additional stoves. Two fans at the back of the bus. Cold pack - 35 C.
]City (low-floor) Intercity (low-floor)Type design system [edit]
The type designs were used to define all models prior to 2004. With the introduction of the model names in 2004, the system is still in use on all vehicles, but is more for internal use. In most cases it can be found on the plate inside the bus where one find the VIN.
floor height
- N: Low-floor bus (German : Niederflur)
- E: Low-entry bus (Some low-entry versions have letter N instead when they are built technically similar to the low-floor version.)
- DD: Double decker bus (German: Doppeldeckerbus)
- G: Articulated bus (German: Gelenkbus)
- L: Rigid bus (no special adaption) Linienbus)
- M: midibus
- Ü : Intercity bus Uberlandbus)
- xx: First two digits of power output in hp (nearest ten)
- 3 : third generation
- F: Denotes that it is built as a chassis for external bodywork (German: Fahrgestell)
This means that a ND363F has a power output of 360 hp.
Chassis variants (for external bodywork)[edit]
| MAN ND313F / ND363F (A34) MAN ND243F / ND283F (A48) MAN ND323F / ND363F (A95) |
|
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| manufacturer | MAN |
| Production |
|
| body and chassis | |
| class | bus chassis |
| body style | double decker bus |
| Doors | 1 or 2 doors |
| floor type | low floor |
| related | MAN NDxx3 Lion's City DD (A39) |
| powertrain | |
| engine | |
| power output | 240–360 hp (180–270 kW) |
| transmission | Voith DIWA ZF EcoLife |
| Dimensions | |
| Length | 10.85m (2-Axle) 12m, 12.8m (3-Axle) |
| Width | 2.55m |
| Height | 4.1m, 4.2m, 4.3m, 4.4m |
MAN ND243F / ND283F (A48) [edit]
In 2006, a 10.85-metre two-axle version was launched as the MAN ND243F and MAN ND283F, with chassis code A48.
In late 2017, under a negotiated tender, the Land Transport Authority ordered 250 MAN buses, which comprised of 150 MAN NL323Fs and 100 MAN ND323Fs, equipped with Euro VI engines and minor differences to the bodywork in the previous batch; these buses were equipped with two wheelchair bays as compared to one in previous batches. An option was excised in 2018 to procure an additional 150 MAN ND323Fs in this batch; these buses entered revenue service in May 2018 and are currently assigned to SBS Transit, SMRT Buses and Go-Ahead Singapore for fleet additions and replacement of retiring buses.
In July 2018, a tender was awarded by LTA to ST Kinetics for the procurement of 111 MAN ND323Fs, which were expected to be delivered with similar specifications to the earlier batch; these buses were expected to enter revenue service in 2019, with the final bus delivered in 2020. Similar to the previous batch, these buses will be assigned to various bus operators for fleet additions and replacement of retiring buses.
Following the successful trial of the three door MAN ND323F, the Land Transport Authority announced that 50 production batch 3-door ND323Fs will be procured along with 50 3-door Alexander Dennis Enviro500s; these buses will be released on the roads in 2020.
Hong Kong [edit]
In August 2014, Kwoon Chung Motors Company (KCM) ordered 9 ND323Fs replacing 8 Dennis Tridents and 1 MAN 24.310 . Also, KCM"s subsidiary company New Lantau Bus (NLB) purchased 10 ND323Fs, they were delivered to Hong Kong in June and August 2015 respectively. Moreover, in 2017, NLB purchased 16 ND363Fs with Gemilang Lion"s city DD facelift body, they were delivered to Hong Kong since November 2017 and registered since February 2018; the order has been increased to add another 13 vehicles and registered since June 2018. In 2018, NLB purchased 5 ND363Fs with Gemilang"s Lion"s city DD facelift body which is equivalent to the previous order and equipped with a Euro 6 engine, they are being delivered to Hong Kong since February 2019.
Gallery [edit]
NL 263 (A21) in Oslo
NG 313 (A23) in Mülheim an der Ruhr
ORN Lion's City G at Mainz main station.
Lion's City DD in Berlin
see also [edit]
| Wikimedia Commons has media related to MAN Lion's City . |
References [edit]
- "Linienbusse" (in German). MAN Nutzfahrzeuge. Archived from the original on April 13, 1997.
- "MAN: Fuel Cell City Bus (2000)" the original on 19 July 2011.
- "MAN: low floor bus with FC and LH2 (2001)". netinform - Wasserstoff und Brennstoffzellen. Archived from the original on July 7, 2010.
- "Premiere in Helsinki: MAN Lion"s City Hybrid-Stadtbus der neuesten Generation" (PDF) (in German). Neoman Bus Gruppe. 22 May 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 December 2008.
- "Hybrid drive" . MAN Truck & Bus. Archived from the original on August 25, 2011.
- ^ AG, MAN Truck & Bus. "MAN Lion"s City model series | MAN Bus Germany" . www.bus.man.eu. Retrieved December 15, 2018.
- ^ "MAN Bus Program" the original (PDF) on 23 December 2005.
- "IAA 2002 - MAN Bus Highlights" (PDF) (in German). MAN Nutzfahrzeuge. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 16, 2004.
- "MAN A84 - 18.280 HOCL-NL Lion"s City LE" (PDF). MAN Truck & Bus (S.A.) (Pty) Ltd.
- Olifantsfontein. MAN Truck & Bus (S.A.) (Pty) Ltd. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
- ^ "MAN bus chassis - Program 2008/2009" (PDF) . MAN Nutzfahrzeuge. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 September 2009.
- "Joint News Release by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) & SMRT - Buses with USB Charging Ports to hit the road on 1 September" . Land Transport Authority. August 31, 2016 August 20, 2019.
- "MAN Lion" s City DD L Mock-up Bus ". Land Transport Guru. 12 March 2016. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
- Singapore authority assesses three-door double-decks Bus & Coach Professional May 6, 2016
- "MAN A95 (ND323F)". Land Transport Guru. September 24, 2014.
- "The lion is roaring in Singapore". MAN SE. September 8, 2016 . 16 September 2016.
- "MAN A95 (Euro 6) - First Production Batch". Land Transport Guru. May 23, 2018 August 20, 2019.
- "LTA Awards Contract for 111 Double Deck Buses to ST Engineering Land Systems Ltd". Land Transport Authority. July 11, 2018 August 20, 2019.
- "LTA Awards Contract for 100 Three-Door Buses to Two Tenderers". Land Transport Authority. April 25, 2019 August 20, 2019.
- Hong Kong Buses Yearbook 2016, Northcord International Limited, ISBN , pages 30 to 41.
- MAN double deckers for Sydney Northern Beaches Australasian Bus & Coach September 15, 2016
- Sydney Metro MAN A95 buses delivered Australasian Bus & Coach 30 November 2017
external links [edit]
Public transport bus services are based on regular operation of transit buses along a route calling at agreed bus stops according to a published public transport timetable. While there are indications of experiments with public transport in Paris as early as 1662, there is evidence of a scheduled "bus route" from Market Street in Manchester to Pendleton in Salford UK, started by John Greenwood in 1824. Another claim for the first public transport system for general use originated in Nantes, France , in 1826. Stanislas Baudry, a retired army officer who had built public baths using the surplus heat from his flour mill on the city's edge, set up a short route between the center of when Baudry discovered that passengers were just as interested in getting off at intermediate points as in patronizing his baths, he changed the route's focus. His new voiture omnibus combined the functions of the hired hackney carriage with a stagecoach that travelled a predetermined route from inn to inn, carrying passengers and mail.
His omnibus had wooden benches. In 1828, Baudry went to Paris, where he founded a company under the name Entreprise générale des omnibus de Paris, while his son Edmond Baudry founded two similar companies in Bordeaux and in Lyon . A London newspaper reported on July 4, 1829, that "the new vehicle, called the omnibus, commenced running this morning from Paddington to the City", operated by George Shillibeer ; the first omnibus service in New York began in 1829, when Abraham Brower, an entrepreneur who had organized volunteer fire companies, established a route along Broadway starting at Bowling Green. Other American cities soon followed suit: Philadelphia in 1831, Boston in 1835 and Baltimore in 1844. In most cases, the city governments granted a private company—generally a small stableman in the livery or freight-hauling business—an exclusive franchise to operate public coaches along a specified route. In return, the company agreed to maintain certain minimum levels of service. In 1832 the New York omnibus had a rival when the first trams, or streetcars started operation along Bowery , which offered the excellent improvement in amenity of riding on smooth iron rails rather than clattering over border setts , called "Belgian blocks".
An electric vehicle called an EV, uses one or more electric motors or traction motors for propulsion. An electric vehicle may be powered through a collector system by electricity from off-vehicle sources, or may be self-contained with a battery, solar panels or an electric generator to convert fuel to electricity. EVs include, but are not limited to, road and rail vehicles and underwater vessels, electric aircraft and electric spacecraft. EVs first came into existence in the mid-19th century, when electricity was among the preferred methods for motor vehicle propulsion, providing a level of comfort and ease of operation that could not be achieved by the gasoline cars of the time. Modern internal combustion engines have been the dominant propulsion method for motor vehicles for 100 years, but electric power has remained commonplace in other vehicle types, such as trains and smaller vehicles of all types. In the 21st century, EVs saw a resurgence due to technological developments, an increased focus on renewable energy.
Built an electric locomotive that attained a speed of four miles per hour. In England a patent was granted in 1840 for the use of rails as conductors of electric current, similar American patents were issued to Lilley and Colten in 1847; the first mass-produced electric vehicles appeared in America in the early 1900s. In 1902, "Studebaker Automobile Company" entered the automotive business with electric vehicles, though it entered the gasoline vehicles market in 1904. However, with the advent of cheap assembly line cars by Ford , electric cars fell to the waysideDue to the limitations of storage batteries at that time, electric cars did not gain much popularity, however electric trains gained immense popularity due to their economies and fast speeds achievable. By the 20th century, electric rail transport became commonplace. Over time their general-purpose commercial use reduced to specialist roles, as platform trucks, forklift trucks, tow tractors and urban delivery vehicles, such as the iconic British milk float.
Electrified trains were used for coal transport, as the motors did not use precious oxygen in the mines. Switzerland "s lack of natural fossil resources forced the rapid electrification of their rail network. One of the earliest rechargeable batteries - the nickel-iron battery - was favored by Edison for use in electric cars. EVs were among the earliest automobiles, before the preeminence of light, powerful internal combustion engines, electric automobiles held many land vehicle speed and distance records in the early 1900s, they were produced by Baker Electric Henry Ford Germany . 31 boroughs, which are compact conurbations with wide stretches of open country between them; the main shopping street of the young city is in the borough of Lebenstedt, the central business district is in the borough of Salzgitter-Bad. Elbe Lateral Canal by a distributary ; the nearest metropolises are Braunschweig, about 23 kilometers to the northeast, Hanover , about 51 km to the northwest. The population of the City of Salzgitter has exceeded 100,000 inhabitants since its foundation in 1942, when it was still called Watenstedt-Salzgitter.
Compressed natural gas is a fuel which can be used in place of gasoline , diesel fuel and propane/LPG. CNG combustion produces fewer undesirable gases than the aforementioned fuels. In comparison to other fuels, natural gas poses less of a threat in the event of a spill, because it is lighter than air and disperses when released. Biomethane – cleaned-up biogas from anaerobic digestion or landfills – can be used. CNG is made by compressing natural gas, to less than 1 percent of the volume it occupies at standard atmospheric pressure, it is stored and distributed in hard containers at a pressure of 20–25 MPa in cylindrical or spherical shapes. CNG is used in traditional gasoline/internal combustion engine automobiles that have been modified or in vehicles which were manufactured for CNG use, either alone, with a segregated gasoline system to extend range or in conjunction with another fuel such as diesel. Natural gas vehicles are used in Iran Argentina and India .
With the Asia-Pacific region leading with 5.7 million NGVs , followed by Latin America with four million vehicles. Several manufacturers sell bi-fuel cars. In 2006, Fiat introduced the Siena Tetrafuel in the Brazilian market, equipped with a 1.4L FIRE engine that runs on E100 , E25, Ethanol and CNG. Any existing gasoline vehicle can be converted to a dual-fuel vehicle. authorized shops can do the retrofitting and involves installing a CNG cylinder, plumbing , a CNG injection system and the electronics; the cost of installing a CNG conversion kit can reach $8,000 on passenger cars and light trucks and is reserved for vehicles that travel many miles each year. CNG costs emits up to 90% fewer emissions than gasoline. CNG locomotives are operated by several railroads; the Napa Valley Wine Train retrofit a diesel locomotive to run on compressed natural gas before 2002. This converted locomotive was upgraded to utilize a computer controlled fuel injection system in May 2008, is now the Napa Valley Wine Train's primary locomotive.
MAN Lion's City MY2018 Overall length: 12.0/18.0 m Start of sales: autumn 2018
DISCO STYLE
Before leaving for the evening part of the event, a small surprise awaited us. An ordinary-looking articulated city bus approached the hotel building, which at first no one paid attention to. When we were invited inside, everyone was pleasantly surprised by the bar with drinks, disco music and light show. In such high spirits, we set off across the city to the engine factory.
By the way, this year MAN Truck & Bus hosted up to 1,500 guests from all over the world at its MAN Bus Days forum, including representatives of transport companies, drivers, journalists, and just fans of the brand. At the same time, the visitors of the event were given the opportunity to get acquainted with the vehicles of the entire model range of the MAN and Neoplan brands, as well as to conduct a small test drive. Undoubtedly, one of the most striking events was the world premiere of the new MAN Lion’s City city bus, to which I will devote the main part of the story. Although it is impossible not to note the presence at the event of the already famous Neoplan Cityliner tourist bus, which attracted admiring glances from those present thanks to the refinement made by the Klebebande group of artists from Berlin as part of the Moving Art project.
CLEAR GUIDANCE
With the introduction of the new city bus, a clear focus was set on economy, driving comfort, new technologies and design. At the same time, the developers set themselves the goal of setting new standards for all bus components without exception. Examples of this are the fundamentally new powertrain with the MAN Efficient Hybrid module, independent front suspension, LED optics and the new modular interior concept. 18 years after the introduction of its predecessor, the newly minted MAN Lion's City is turning a new page in city buses. The machine already now complies with all standards in force today and coming into force in the foreseeable future.
Externally, the new city bus has a design characteristic of the MAN brand. In addition to the eye-catching head optics with daytime running lights in the form of a strip of LEDs and the black decorative trim typical of MAN buses with a chrome insert, the lowered waistline of the body catches the eye. It not only creates a visual sense of dynamism, but also reduces the total cost of ownership over the life of the bus. As with the new MAN Lion's Coach, the rear of the new MAN Lion's City is designed in the style of a modern smartphone. Soon, for everyone, it will become the hallmark of the bus brand.
In all likelihood, the light optics at the front and rear of the bus will serve as an example in setting new standards. MAN uses LEDs not only in daytime running lights. For the first time, headlamps are available in full LED version. Like the LED taillights, they are part of the standard equipment. In addition to their high efficiency, the lamps impress with a long service life of up to 10,000 hours, as well as a high fault tolerance that eliminates the need for costly replacements. At the same time, visibility is improved: the LED lamps in the dipped and main beam headlights are approximately 50% brighter than halogen ones.
Thanks to the use of new materials and technologies, the city bus not only looks stylish, it has become lighter and more reliable. In addition, user friendliness has been improved, for example, thanks to convenient panels that provide access to the engine and serviced components. Compared to its predecessor with the D20 engine, the new MAN Lion's City in the 12 meter version with the same configuration has a lower weight of about 1130 kg, which significantly affects fuel consumption. In particular, the weight reduction was facilitated by the new design of the engine compartment panel without a steel frame, as well as the reduction in the thickness of the rear window and the optimization of the weight of the side cladding made of polypropylene reinforced with natural fibers.
An 18-meter articulated city bus option is envisaged.
The new Lion's City is the first MAN bus with independent front wheel suspension. When moving over bumps in the road with one wheel, the movement of the wheel and suspension arms is only slightly transmitted to the opposite side. The reduction in unsprung masses allowed the overall suspension to be made softer. The previous damping technology has been replaced as standard by new shock absorbers with a PCV comfort valve. These hydraulic dampers provide optimal suspension stiffness for ride comfort and stability in all driving modes.
The doors of the new bus are also improved. As before, they are an in-house development, but at the same time they are 100 mm wider and have a faster and more precise stroke. You can choose from pneumatic inward or outward pivoting doors, as well as inward pivoting and tilt-sliding doors with electro-hydraulic operation. In this case, well-proven components are used that do not require lubrication or adjustment during operation.
The new concept of choice of colors and interior trims offers a light and pleasant design without unnecessary visual elements. At the same time, light and dark shades are chosen in such a way as to emphasize individual functional areas. At the same time, the new seat concept with side rails and the optimized spacing not only save space, but also make cleaning easier. In this case, a standardized seat frame is used, mounted on two rails attached to the side wall. Using adapters, you can easily install any seat according to your needs. Comfort and safety are also ensured for standing passengers, with new overhead grab bars with oval handles for a comfortable grip.
A new seating concept with mounting on side rails.
The interior also uses modern LED lighting technology. Optionally, diffused lighting can be implemented in the form of a strip of LED lamps in warm white and colored lighting that runs along the entire length of the cabin. It provides uniform illumination and a modern, dynamic lighting design.
In the new MAN Lion's City, the driver's workplace has been optimized. The elegantly curved cab door fits in perfectly with the new design concept. Focusing on ergonomics, comfort and safety, the engineers have not least paid attention to the location of switches and instruments in order to improve ease of operation. Controls are now grouped into three zones according to how often they are used. An optional right side instrument panel is available for mounting additional DIN gauges or surveillance system monitors. On the side are a cup holder and a USB port.
To improve ergonomics, the possibility of horizontal displacement of the driver's seat has been increased. When adjusting the position of the steering wheel in height and angle of inclination, the instrument panel moves synchronously. Improving the readability of information is achieved by including a 4-inch high-resolution color display as standard. Modular driver's door glass, which can be extended to the windshield, provides additional protection against tampering.
Controls are now grouped into three zones, according to how often they are used.
BRIDGING THE GAP
An additional contribution to improving the efficiency of the new bus will be made by the new lightweight D1556 LOH engine, which already today complies with the Euro 6d environmental standards that come into force on September 1, 2019.
For the mid power range, this 9 liter engine has an ideal displacement of 9037 cc. The vertically mounted motor will fill a gap in the MAN engine range. The high-performance engine will be offered in 280, 330 and 360 horsepower versions. with., which corresponds to the typical operating conditions of city buses.
As one of the innovations, it should be noted that only SCR technology is used to achieve the requirements of environmental standards, without the use of the EGR system. In combination with the MAN CRT particulate filter, SCR technology makes it possible to virtually eliminate nitrogen oxide emissions.
This decision required the adaptation of the components that affect mixture formation. With the new common rail injection system, the turbocharger can be tuned to optimize efficiency. To achieve this, the MAN developers, among other things, changed the design of the injectors and the geometry of the combustion chamber, which made it possible to achieve optimal swirling of the fuel. Other innovations include new steel pistons and valves, allowing injection pressures up to 2,500 bar and ignition pressures up to 230 bar.
Unlike similar engines with an exhaust gas recirculation system, the new single-stage turbocharger uses the entire mass of exhaust gases to increase efficiency. As a result, the output is improved and an excellent high-speed characteristic of the engine is achieved with at the same time low fuel consumption.
By the way, the D15 engine is now equipped with a variable coolant pump. The performance of the pump, which is adjustable over the entire speed range, is determined by the need for cooling. Productivity is continuously adjustable from 20 to 95%. For example, when there is a small cooling demand, for example at low load, the required mechanical capacity of the coolant pump is reduced by 80%, which means a noticeable fuel saving. This also applies to the fan drive.
In the new MAN city buses, the D1556 LOH engine replaces the previously installed D2066 LUH. The new engine is characterized by good dynamics due to the optimal design and tuning of the turbocharger with reduced weight and increased efficiency. Reducing the weight of the engine unloads the rear axle, which contributes to a better distribution of the axle load. This is especially important with a large rear overhang and standing area, as this increases the payload. In addition, weight reduction reduces fuel consumption.
The new lightweight D1556 LOH engine already complies with Euro 6d emission standards.
As an option, the D15 engine can be supplemented with the new MAN Efficient Hybrid module, which can significantly reduce fuel consumption. The big advantage of the start/stop function as standard is the reduction in exhaust emissions and engine noise when waiting at traffic lights and at stops. The MAN Efficient Hybrid contributes to the reduction of CO 2 and nitrogen oxide emissions and thus improves air quality in cities. The module and its energy storage are designed for 2.6 million engine stop and start cycles.
The new generation of city buses will be manufactured at the MAN plant in Starachowice (Poland) from August 2018.
The rear of the new MAN Lion's City is designed in the style of a modern smartphone.
PARTY AT 18 METERS
For many participants, MAN Bus Days began with a trip to the evening presentation in a mobile disco club. The extraordinary car was prepared by the MAN Bus Modification Center, which converted the standard MAN Lion's City GL of the previous generation for the Sales-Lentz Group. Up to 45 people can dance, enjoy drinks and have fun in the mobile club.
The bar counter is equipped with a swing door, three refrigerators, a dispenser and a cooler for draft beer. There is also a DJ console for controlling a high-end sound system with built-in speakers, subwoofers and detachable external speakers.
For a more relaxing pastime, a cozy lounge with a corner sofa is provided in the tail section of the bus. In order to prevent drinks from tipping over while driving, built-in magnetic coasters are used. Particularly interesting are the handrails with bizarre branches going up. The bus also has a first-class equipped toilet cabin.
In terms of lighting, the developers have relied on individual and unique solutions. The exclusive concept of Pixelstripe LED strips and LED lights around the perimeter of the lounge area create special effects. The club atmosphere is complemented by ceiling lights. Each element is controlled individually.
The disco bus also has a monitor connected to a fisheye camera, with the ability to access social networks. Guests can not only take pictures, but also immediately post them on social networks.
Specifications MAN Lion's City MY2018 |
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| Number of seats | 33 (3‑door version) |
| Dimensions(length Width Height) | 12 185/2550/3060 mm |
| Wheelbase | 6005 mm |
| Fuel tank volume | 175–350 l |
| Engine | D1556 LOH12, Euro 6d, diesel, in-line, 6-cylinder, working volume 9037 cm 3, power 280 at 1800 min -1, torque 1200 at 800–1600 min -1 |
| Transmission(machine.) | ZF EcoLife Step3 (6-speed) or Voith DIWA6 (4-speed) |
| Suspension(front/back) | independent, pneumatic/dependent, pneumatic |
| brakes | disk |
Competitors |
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| Scania Citywide, Mercedes-Benz Citaro | |
