As the inventor of the diesel engine, MAN can draw on decades of invaluable expertise in the development of natural gas engines and buses. MAN continues to drive the industry forward with its visionary ideas, straight ahead into a clean and sustainable future. The newly developed E18 natural gas engine not only complies with the Euro 6 emissions standard but performs significantly better than the current limits. That means you can rely on this technology to expand your public transport long into the future. MAN takes sustainability seriously.
Visionary ideas for a better quality of life
MAN is the market and technology leader for natural gas engines and can rely on its unrivalled wealth of expertise. MAN's innovative drive for innovation does not stop at engines. From smart solutions for a safe and easy fuelling system to additionally increasing efficiency with the MAN EfficientHybrid, the new MAN Lion's City G is full of ideas enhancing comfort and eco-friendliness from the chassis to the roof.
More efficient than ever: The innovative basis for the newly developed 9.5 l four-valve six-cylinder in-line E18 engine is the D15 diesel engine introduced in 2018. Thanks to its downsizing ingenuity, MAN was able to achieve higher torque while reducing displacement. This saves enormously on fuel. And that's not all. The newly developed exhaust gas recirculation in combination with a 3-way catalytic converter for exhaust treatment enables emissions to be significantly lower than the required Euro 6 emissions limits.
Guaranteed eco-friendliness
The MAN Lion's City G uses few, but large, type 4 gas cylinders which are stored in a safe and easy-to-maintain manner underneath an aerodynamic cover on the roof. Most countries do not require regular pressure checks for these cylinders. Further advantages of the innovative MAN solution include weight reduction, no corrosion and lower maintenance costs. This modular system can carry up to 1,875 l, sufficient for a range of up to 500 kilometres.
Improved efficiency and environmental protection in scheduled bus services: thanks to the smart energy management provided by the optional equipment MAN EfficientHybrid, your MAN Lion’s City G brings in triple savings – on fuel consumption, exhaust emissions, and noise emissions.
With MAN EfficientHybrid, your MAN Lion’s city G benefits from smart energy management. The main component is a robust and wear-free electric motor which is installed in the driveline between the engine and the gearbox and serves as a crankshaft starter alternator. Thanks to this alternator, combined with a roof-mounted UltraCap energy accumulator and a smart control system, your vehicle’s energy efficiency increases substantially. By the way: MAN city buses with EfficientHybrid are officially registered as hybrid buses.
Brake energy recuperation
Each braking process is a win for your Man Lion’s City G with EfficientHybrid. This is effected by the crankshaft starter alternator, which immediately converts the generated recuperation energy into electrical energy.
Stops with zero exhaust emissions and noise emissions
The stop-start function switches off the gas engine of your MAN Lion's City G at each station and red light, giving your passengers a first-hand experience of the hybrid technology. Fuel consumption and the corresponding exhaust emissions and noise emissions drop to zero. The smart energy management system uses the free energy stored in the UltraCap module to supply the vehicle electrical system.
Fuel- and emission-optimised driving
Since the stored electricity is also used whilst driving, the gas engine has to produce less energy. This means even less fuel consumption and exhaust emissions.
Durable and maintenance free system
Our MAN EfficientHybrid energy technology is durable and designed to be maintenance free: the crankshaft starter alternator works without current collector brushes and mechanical intervention. The UltraCap energy accumulator has an extremely long service life. It can manage up to 2.6 million stop-start cycles for your Man Lion’s City G with EfficientHybrid with ease.
System components and operating principle
The crankshaft starter alternator The crankshaft starter alternator attached to the engine flywheel housing in the MAN EfficientHybrid system assumes two functions: When the vehicle slows down or brakes, it acts as an alternator: It uses the generated mechanical energy to create electricity (recuperation). When driving off, on the other hand, the crankshaft starter alternator assumes the role of an electric starter: it converts the previously gathered electrical energy back into kinetic energy.
UltraCap energy accumulator The 48 volt UltraCap energy accumulator is made up of multiple individual cells with high-performance capacitors. In contrast to conventional batteries, the electrical energy is here stored in purely electrostatic form and without involving any chemical processes. The capacitors can accumulate and release large amounts of electricity at particularly high speed. Plus, they are lighter and more compact than conventional rechargeable batteries.
Smart energy management The MAN EfficientHybrid technology always uses the stored energy such that your vehicle can realise a maximum savings potential in terms of fuel and emissions. To achieve this, the self-learning energy management system automatically prioritises how the energy is distributed: the highest priority is given to the system which supplies the vehicle electrical system during stop time. If sufficient amounts of energy are stored in the UltraCap module, the system also supplies power to the vehicle electrical system while driving and supports the diesel engine with electric drive output.
The MAN EfficientHybrid on the go
When the vehicle slows down before coming to a halt at a red light or the next station, the crankshaft starter alternator converts the generated brake energy into electrical energy (1). The electricity gathered in this process is then safely stored in the high-performance capacitors of the UltraCap module.
While the vehicle is at standstill, the EfficientHybrid system turns off the combustion engine (2). At the same time, the UltraCap accumulator takes over the supply of the vehicle electrical system. All functions, such as opening and closing of the doors, operation of the interior lighting and the ventilation are now supplied with power by the accumulator.
Once driving off again, the crankshaft starter alternator uses the available energy from the UltraCap capacitors to start the combustion engine.
If sufficient energy is available in the UltraCap module, the EfficientHybrid system also supplies the vehicle electrical system with power while driving (3). In addition, the crankshaft starter alternator can use excess stored energy to act as an additional hybrid drive and thereby take some of the load off the combustion engine.
EfficientHybrid module – technical data
Storage capacity of the UltraCap energy accumulator
40 Wh
Crankshaft starter alternator (CSA) or integrated starter alternator (ISA)
Three-phase reluctance machine
Cooling system
Air cooling
Max. output
12 kW
Max. torque
220 Nm
Additional weight
170 kg
Registration as hybrid vehicle
Yes
Stop-start function
Yes
Supply of the vehicle electrical system
Yes
Support for the combustion engine
Yes
Clean performance: Higher quality of life through lower emissions
Natural gas is the cleanest of all fossil fuels. Thanks to MAN's innovative power, emission of pollutants has already been reduced by up to 97% compared to earlier diesel engines. Even more eco-friendly: the MAN Lion's City G also runs on bio-methane. With this CO2-neutral option you can save 39,000 tonnes of CO2 over a period of 12 years. By the way: The enhanced smoothness also makes the engine much more quiet than diesel engines.
