- VHH adds 48 MAN electric buses, boosting its electric fleet to 183 out of 750.
- The buses feature large mobility areas, illuminated stop buttons, door air conditioning, and trial cameras replacing mirrors.
- These buses, part of a 350-bus order, are deployed at key depots serving Hamburg’s busiest routes.
MAN delivers 48 electric buses to VHH, taking on some of Hamburg’s busiest routes
Verkehrsbetriebe Hamburg-Holstein (VHH) is enhancing its fleet with 48 new electric buses from MAN. This addition brings VHH’s electric fleet to 183 out of approximately 750 buses.
The new MAN buses come with all the technological trimmings we’ve come to expect from modern EVs. They feature large mobility areas for buggies and wheelchairs, for easy inclusivity. The stop request buttons are both illuminated and vibrate, catering to passengers with varying accessibility needs. Additionally, these buses are equipped with advanced air conditioning systems on the doors.
Inclusivity and comfort aside, new safety features are also being tested. Two of the buses are fitted with cameras in place of traditional exterior mirrors. This is part of an ongoing trial to enhance safety by providing additional visibility for the drivers. We’ve seen rear-view cameras replacing mirrors in EVs before, but whether this tech will take off on MAN buses remains to be seen.
This deployment is part of a larger order placed in March 2023, when VHH secured 350 electric buses from MAN and Daimler Buses. This order includes up to 100 Lion’s City 12 E models from MAN and up to 250 Mercedes eCitaro buses from Daimler Buses. At the time, VHH confirmed 48 solo buses from MAN and 95 buses from Daimler.
The newly delivered buses are stationed at the Bergedorf, Schenefeld, and Billbrook depots. They will serve some of Hamburg’s busiest routes. The confidence in these new models is clear. Deploying these new electric buses on some of the city’s busiest routes is a statement of sustainable intent, and a sure-fire way to begin reducing inner-city emissions.
