MAN delivers largest single e-bus order in Austria to ÖBB Postbus

Austrian operator ÖBB Postbus has placed 63 MAN Lion’s City E buses into regular service across the Austrian federal state of Vorarlberg.

The delivery represents the largest single electric bus order for MAN Truck & Bus in Austria. The vehicles, comprising 27 MAN Lion’s City 12 E and 36 articulated MAN Lion’s City 18 E units, have been delivered and are already operating on scheduled services in several regions of the state, MAN states.

The manufacturer highlights that Vorarlberg is currently the Austrian federal state with the highest share of electric buses in operation. Around 100 battery-electric buses are in regular service, accounting for roughly one third of the active fleet. More than half of these vehicles are operated by ÖBB Postbus. The number of electric buses in the state fleet is scheduled to increase to 141 vehicles by spring, with a target of 200 electric buses by 2030.

MAN delivers electric buses in Voralberg

According to company figures, MAN supplied a total of 112 electric buses in Austria in the previous year and holds a market share of over 50 percent in the segment.

The 12-metre Lion’s City 12 E is designed for standard urban and regional routes, offering 30 seats and standing room for 61 passengers. The articulated 18-metre Lion’s City 18 E targets high-capacity corridors, with 42 seats and space for 113 standing passengers. Both variants are low-floor vehicles equipped for barrier-free access.

The electric buses are powered by central electric motors and are fitted with six or eight battery packs, depending on configuration. MAN states that the vehicles are designed to achieve operational ranges of up to 350 kilometres under suitable conditions. Passenger comfort features include air conditioning systems with integrated heat pumps and standardised seating layouts.

Safety and driver assistance systems installed on the buses include turn assist, brake assist and emergency brake assist. The driver’s workplace features a full-width windscreen, while the vehicles are equipped with swivel-sliding doors to support efficient passenger exchange at stops.

Operation of the electric fleet is supported by a charging infrastructure comprising 144 charging points distributed across Vorarlberg. Of these, 75 are located at the ÖBB Postbus depots in Wolfurt (which is being prepared by Kempower), Bludenz and Feldkirch. The charging facilities are installed and operated by regional energy provider illwerke vkw.

The Postbus depot in Wolfurt has undergone extensive upgrades in preparation for the electric fleet and is described by the operator as the largest charging hub for electric buses in Austria. Kempower stated that such depot includes 54 charging points in its initial phase, each delivering up to 240 kW. The site is designed for expansion to 84 charging points. Power supply is ensured by a total transformer capacity of 5 MW, distributed across four 1.25 MW transformers.

“We are proud of this order, which is our largest single e-bus order in Austria to date,” says Rudi Kuchta, Managing Director of MAN Truck & Bus Austria, adding: “We are also delighted to be actively shaping emission-free public transport in Vorarlberg as a reliable partner. For MAN, electromobility is the central pillar of our corporate strategy for alternative drive systems, and we are consistently investing in innovative, sustainable technologies. We will therefore continue to contribute to environmentally friendly regional transport with our innovative MAN electric buses in the future. MAN is the market leader in the field of e-buses in Austria with a market share of over 50 percent – not least thanks to the great trust that ÖBB Postbus places in us.”