The MAN Lion’s Explorer E electric bus
Golden Arrow Bus Services (GABS) says it will probably make a final decision in the third or fourth quarter of this year on whether it will acquire any Lion’s Explorer E electric buses from MAN Truck & Bus South Africa (MAN SA).
MAN SA in September provided GABS with its first Lion’s Explorer E electric bus for test purposes.
GABS company engineer Gideon Neethling says the Cape Town-based bus service introduced the Explorer E to its passengers in early February, once it had completed non-passenger testing.
Non-passenger testing included training bus drivers on using the electric bus; checking all the required safety features; determining the range of a single charge; and pinpointing charging rates.
“The energy efficiency is within our expected range of between 0.9 kWh and 1.1 kWh per kilometre,” says Neethling.
He adds that both driver and passenger feedback “have been really positive”.
He says while the evaluation of the Explorer E “is ongoing”, he can confirm that GABS has not experienced any operational issues or major concerns.
MAN SA noted last year that the Explorer E was specifically developed for the African market, following a request by GABS for a MAN electric bus that would suit the South African environment.
GABS is also testing three electric buses from a Chinese manufacturer.
The bus service noted last year that its goal was to acquire more than 60 electric buses a year.
About 31% of GABS’ total costs relate to fuel.
The 66-seater Explorer E carries one more passenger than an equivalent diesel-powered Lion’s Explorer bus.
MAN SA says the Explorer E’s range is 300 km to 350 km, with a battery life up to 14 years, with 70% efficiency remaining at this point.
The local arm of the German bus maker has an assembly plant in Durban, and a bus body plant in Gauteng.