Zero Emission

Battery electric vehicles are the deciding factor for us on our road towards zero-emission commercial vehicle mobility. Alongside these, hydrogen-powered vehicles could also play a role, and MAN is working on those too. Our aim is clear: by 2030, one in every two trucks will be equipped with zero-emission power units. As early as 2025, half of our new city buses will use electric means of propulsion. By 2030, we predict that 90 per cent of our total bus sales will be delivered with zero-emission power units.

However, the lack of charging infrastructure is still an obstacle to the wider adoption of battery electric vehicles. That’s why we are working with other manufacturers on solutions that can be implemented rapidly. We are also seeking dialogue with politicians to drive the issue forward for society as a whole.

From the diesel engine to e-power

At the end of the day, diesel engines must be replaced as soon as possible by more climate-friendly drive options. When it comes to zero-emission technologies, we have a clear focus on electromobility. We have concentrated our development activities in this area and are investing in new production facilities.

Alongside this, however, we are also working on hydrogen-based propulsion systems that can complement battery electric drive technologies: combustion engines and fuel cells. Hydrogen-powered vehicles could, for example, offer a solution for very remote areas. Special applications such as the transportation of heavy loads by road could also represent potential applications due to their high demands on performance and tank capacity.

Daily ranges of up to 1,000 kilometres

The battery itself is crucial. We anticipate significant advances here – with daily ranges of up to 1,000 km and charging times of well under an hour in the next few years. To ensure that we are at the forefront of technical developments, we are electrifying our combustion engine production site in Nuremberg, a traditional plant with a 180-year history, and making it the home of high-voltage battery mass production for our electric vehicles. To achieve this, we are investing almost 100 million euros over the next five years, securing some 350 jobs in this future technology. By the beginning of 2025, up to 100,000 battery packs will be rolling off the production lines in Nuremberg each year.

Hydrogen for commercial vehicles

MAN regards hydrogen combustion and hydrogen fuel cell engines as a complement to our purely battery electric drive systems. MAN is currently working with industry partners Bosch, Forvia and ZF on the “Bavarian Fleet” (Bayernflotte) project to develop a fuel cell truck, due to be trialled with five customers. The state of Bavaria is backing the “Bavarian Fleet” research project to the tune of around 8.5 million euros.

Hydrogen combustion engines could be the ideal complement to battery electric or fuel cell drive systems for special applications. That’s why MAN is continuing to develop these technologies for the transport of heavy goods – for instance on building sites, for tanker transport or timber haulage. As the basis for our hydrogen combustion engines, we are using our company’s own engine technology, proven over many decades.

MAN is currently working on a small production run of the hTGX, powered by a hydrogen combustion engine. It is based on our TG range of vehicles, guaranteeing high performance, reliable quality and ease of maintenance. The vehicles are due to be delivered to customers in Norway, Iceland, the Netherlands and the United Arab Emirates from 2025.

In the longer term, MAN sees further applications for hydrogen combustion engines primarily in the MAN Engines product ranges, as drive units for ships, heavy agricultural and construction machinery, electricity generators and combined heat and power plants.

Nevertheless, high acquisition costs and the lack of a comprehensive charging infrastructure on major routes are currently still an obstacle. To speed up the rapid spread of alternative propulsion systems, we need a suitable political framework and investments in the refuelling and charging infrastructure. The transition will only be a success if either the costs of use are lower than for other drive options – trucks and buses are investment goods and companies need them to be profitable – or legal frameworks, such as extended delivery windows or preferential access, provide the stimulus for the switch.

That’s why we are seeking dialogue with politicians, so that we can work together to achieve the rapid transformation of the mobility sector. However, we are also making progress as the commercial vehicle industry: MAN Truck & Bus is part of the TRATON GROUP, which has founded the Milence joint venture, working together with Volvo Trucks and Daimler Truck over the next five years to build and operate around 1,700 high-performance charging points throughout Europe.