Market leader in gas-powered city buses to premier Lion's City CNG Model for hot countries at the upcoming 59th UTIP World Congress in Dubai
The world's assured accessible natural-gas reserves are estimated at almost 190 billion cubic metres - at today's rate of extraction that's enough for the next sixty years. If one adds the natural-gas resources (meaning gas that cannot yet be extracted or only with great effort), then the range is around 130 years. At more than 75 billion cubic metres, the world's biggest deposits of natural gas have been found in the Near and Middle East, followed by Eastern Europe / CIS (62 billion), North, Central and South America (17), Far East/Pacific (15) and Africa (14). Security of supply and combustion characteristics are factors in favour of natural gas as an alternative source of energy for both stationary and mobile applications - this is being recognised by more and more countries around the world. This is why the UAE, for example, decided years ago that natural gas was to account for twenty percent of the total amount of fuel consumed on its roads by the year 2012.
MAN Truck & Bus, the market leader in gas-powered city buses, is taking advantage of the 59th World Congress of the International Association of Public Transport (UITP) in Dubai to unveil a new version of its Lion's City CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) model designed especially for very hot countries. The vehicle on show, a twelve-metre long low-floor solo bus, is driven by a turbocharged six-cylinder engine powered by natural gas. The engine delivers 228 kW (310 hp) while its emissions are way below the limits set for Enhanced Environmentally-friendly Vehicles (EEV), currently the most stringent emission standard. The engine's exhaust gases are especially low in nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulates. Applications for hot countries such as a pre-separator for the air-intake system ensure reliable operation in very dusty regions where temperatures are high. Power from the natural-gas engine is transmitted to the driving axle by means of an automatic six-speed gearbox equipped with intarder. The gearbox software detects up- and downhill gradients, automatically adjusting the gearshift points as it does so. This reduces fuel consumption.
The natural gas is carried in a total of eight aluminium composite cylinders (rated for a pressure of 200 bar), each with a volume of 214 litres or 1,712 litres in all. The gas cylinders are stored under the attractively designed roof fairing, which can be folded open on both sides, making for good accessibility. Storage volume is calculated on the basis of typical inner-city demand, so that the uncomplicated refill procedure can be carried out at the depot in the evening or at night. Alternative packages of cylinders are available on request.
The bright, friendly interior of the Lion's City CNG with its 32 seats and standing room for 47 passengers is easily accessed by means of three outward-swinging sliding doors and is kept at a temperature that passengers experience as pleasant by a tropical air-conditioning system delivering a maximum of 44 kW cooling performance. Air curtains on the doors prevent the hot outside air getting in when passengers board and alight at the bus stops - this system has already proven itself on the more than 800 diesel buses from MAN Truck & Bus operating in regular service in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
The technical specifications of the UITP exhibit
Model | MAN Lion's City CNG |
Length | 11,980 mm |
Width | 2,500 mm |
Height | 3,370 mm |
Wheelbase | 5,875 mm |
Engine | MAN E2876 LUH 03 (OBD2) with hot-country package |
Capacity | 12,816 cm³ |
Output | 228 kW / 310 hp at 2,000 rpm |
Maximum torque | 1,250 Nm at 1,000 to 1,700 rpm |
Gearbox | ZF 6 AP 1400 EcoLife with TopoDyn Life efficiency software and intarder |
Suspension | Front: MAN comfort low-floor axle; rear: ZF portal axle |
Fuel storage | Eight aluminium composite gas cylinders (rated for a pressure of 200 bar) each with a volume of 214 litres |
Seats / standing room | 32 / 47 |
Empty weight / gross vehicle weight | Approx. 13,000 kg (depending on equipment) / 18,000 kg |
-Ends-
For more information: www.mantruckandbus.com/media
MAN Truck & Bus AG, headquartered in Munich, Germany, is the largest company of the MAN Group and a leading international supplier of efficient commercial vehicles and innovative transport solutions. In fiscal 2009 the enterprise, with around 31,000 employees, posted sales of more than 40,500 trucks and over 6,200 buses and bus chassis of the MAN and NEOPLAN brands worth 6.4 billion euros.
In the Middle East the MAN Truck & Bus AG is represented by MAN Middle East FZCO in Dubai, UAE, since 2006. MAN Middle East FZCO offers a complete commercial vehicles and buses portfolio suitable for all kinds of applications and environments. Our light (TGL), medium (TGM) and heavy (TGA WW) vehicle ranges are well known for their robustness, reliability, and efficiency, while catering for a high level comfort and expected safety standards. Our MAN and NEOPLAN Bus products cater for basic to VIP luxury transport and travel requirements, keeping in mind the harsh operating conditions encountered in the Middle East. Accommodating for demanding local conditions, MAN Truck & Bus AG has been established as a leading provider of efficient and reliable transport solutions for the Middle East.
For more information please contact:
Farah Ibrahim
TRACCS
Tel: +9714 3672530
TRACCS 24/7 Media Hotline: +97150 9448389
Email: farah.ibrahim@traccs.net
© Press Release 2011
