Electric Class II Intercity Bus at Mobility Move

At Mobility Move 2026, held from 10 to 12 March in Berlin, MAN Truck & Bus presented the MAN Lion’s City 12 E LE with Class II approval for interurban routes. The trade fair appearance marked the German premiere of the battery-electric low-entry variant for regional service and expands the manufacturer’s electric portfolio beyond purely urban applications.

Mobility Move originating from the VDV electric bus conference “ElekBu”—is Germany’s largest conference and exhibition for road-based public transport. The 2026 edition focused on autonomous driving, digitalisation, cybersecurity and electric mobility, featuring five conference stages and approximately 7,500 square metres of exhibition space.

Class II Compliance for Regional Operations
The 12.2-metre bus is designed for combined urban and suburban routes where accessibility and intercity certification must be integrated. Since late 2025, the model has been available with Class II approval, meeting UN ECE R66.02 requirements for body structure strength and UN ECE R107 standards for passenger safety.

In the Class II configuration, the vehicle provides up to 39 forward-facing seats and around 20 standing places, plus one wheelchair or stroller space. With Class I approval, seating can reach up to 43+1 passengers. The interior layout combines a low-floor front section with a raised rear area, enabling step-free entry at the front while increasing seating capacity at the rear.

Two emergency exit hatches are integrated into the floor—one near door 1 adjacent to the driver and one opposite door 2 in the standing area. Their placement is separated from high-voltage components. During operation, the hatches remain locked; unintended opening triggers optical, acoustic and haptic alerts at the driver’s workstation.

Electric Drivetrain and Modular Range Configuration
The drivetrain is based on the MAN Lion’s City E platform, of which more than 3,000 units have been sold. A central synchronous electric motor delivers a peak output of 240 kW (326 hp) and a maximum torque of 2,100 Nm. Full torque is available from standstill, supporting acceleration in stop-and-go traffic conditions.

Energy storage is implemented through a modular rooftop battery system. Operators can choose between four or five lithium-ion battery packs of the latest NMC generation, with a total capacity of up to 445 kWh. Under the “Maximum Range Strategy,” up to 400 kWh are usable. The specified range is up to 380 kilometres, depending on route profile, passenger load and auxiliary consumption. This configurability supports route-specific optimisation within digital fleet management structures.

Battery Production and Platform Standardisation
A cutaway model of the new MAN BatteryPack was displayed at the exhibition stand. Series production of the NMC-based lithium-ion system began in 2025 at the company’s battery facility in Nuremberg. Each BatteryPack consists of twelve modules arranged in two to four layers within the housing. Development priorities included mechanical stability, high-voltage safety and thermal management.

Using a common battery generation for both electric buses and trucks enables technical standardisation and economies of scale across vehicle segments.

Driver Assistance and Digital Cockpit Architecture
The exhibited vehicle integrates advanced driver assistance systems for both urban and regional operation. These include radar-based turn assist on the right-hand side, lane departure warning (LDW), lane change support (LCS), and the EBAplus emergency braking assistant with pedestrian and cyclist detection. Additional systems include collision warning, driver attention monitoring, tyre pressure monitoring on all axles, automatic headlight control and a rain sensor.

The bus is also equipped with a camera-based mirror replacement system (OptiView), improving the field of vision while offering aerodynamic benefits. Thermal management is handled by a heat pump using CO₂ as a refrigerant, reducing energy demand for heating and cooling.

At the centre of the redesigned driver’s workplace is a fully digital 12-inch HD display. It consolidates driving, diagnostic and assistance information in a configurable interface and supports integration into connected fleet and telematics systems within an automotive data ecosystem.

Industry Context
During Mobility Move 2026, company representatives participated in a panel discussion on regulation and type approval for automated bus operations. The manufacturer is involved in autonomous driving projects in Berlin (“BeIntelli”) and Munich (“MINGA”), linking electrification and automation strategies in public transport.

By combining Class II structural compliance, modular battery capacity up to 445 kWh and a peak output of 240 kW, the platform targets transport operators transitioning interurban fleets to zero-emission drivetrains while maintaining operational flexibility between city and regional services.

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