SINGAPORE: Leading German commercial vehicle manufacturer MAN Truck & Bus SE (MAN) and its partner, ST Engineering, are aiming to deliver a very innovative solution to support Singapore’s aggressive overhaul of its public bus fleet.
In line with the Singapore Green Plan 2030, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) plans to rapidly electrify the nation’s public bus fleet, with a target of replacing half its fleet of approximately 6,000 buses with zero-emission variants by 2030.
The move will provide commuters with cleaner and quieter rides.
It will also help reduce emissions from the land transport sector, which currently accounts for 15 per cent of all carbon dioxide produced in Singapore.
In support of the Singapore Green Plan 2030 and LTA’s continued drive to electrify its bus fleet, MAN and ST Engineering are developing a solution that meets the latest LTA requirements for public buses.
The solution will feature the low-floor variant of MAN’s award-winning Lion’s Chassis E and configured with three passenger doors.
The proposed solution will be equipped with an advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) powered by ST Engineering’s AGIL DriveSafe+ technology.
Developed by ST Engineering’s Mobility Services business, AGIL DriveSafe+ leverages AI video analytics technology to provide accurate and reliable all-round monitoring and detection of potential collisions in blind spots together with other ADAS capabilities, to improve driver situational awareness and road safety.
The AGIL DriveSafe+ technology is currently being trialled in select public buses in Singapore.
“Singapore has a very ambitious electrification programme for its public bus fleet. We are ready to contribute to its successful implementation by offering the right and ready solution in the form of MAN’s proven e-bus chassis that can be easily customised to meet LTA’s requirements. When further enhanced with the first-of-its-kind AGIL DriveSafe+ technology developed by ST Engineering Mobility Services, our offering would be extremely competitive,” said MAN CEO Alexander Vlaskamp.
Vlaskamp, who was on his maiden visit to Singapore for MAN, was speaking at the unveiling of the first unit of right-hand drive electric single deck MAN bus in Southeast Asia at a private showcase for representatives from both public and private transport operators.
"At MAN, we believe that the future is electric. Our main focus is definitely on advancing electromobility.
To achieve this, we are working on a wide variety of levers: whether it's employee training, end-to-end consultancy for private customers and transport operators, investments in battery production or the constant further development of our MAN Lion's City E.
“We intend to work closely with our customers in every market. Our goal was and is to offer the best electric city bus on the market. Thanks to our successful partnership with ST Engineering, MAN has evolved into one of the strongest brands in the local commercial vehicle market and we intend to play our part in helping power Singapore towards its net zero emissions aspiration,” said Vlaskamp.
“Building on our long-standing collaboration with MAN, we are now teaming up to bring to the market a new generation of electric buses that combine best-in-class technology and reliability, with superior driver safety capabilities. As our AGIL DriveSafe+ technology undergoes trials in Singapore, we are gathering real-world insights to continuously refine and enhance its capabilities, driving advancements in road safety. We believe this will set a new standard for public transit safety in Singapore, making our roads safer for all,” said Hoe Yeen Teck, head, mobility road and services, urban solutions, ST Engineering.
MAN’s Lion City E is one of the best-selling e-buses in Europe with more than 1,000 units on order and more than 450 units in service in major cities across the continent.
In Singapore, MAN has a long history and track record in powering local public transportation needs.
Since 2011, MAN has delivered more than some 1,500 buses and 1,000 trucks to transport operators and fleet owners in the country.
