MAN introduces new eTGE fully electric van for zero-emission commercial needs

Count an all-electric van as one of the MAN SE’s upcoming offerings this year. The well-known truck maker is joining the ranks of manufacturers offering a zero-emission solution to commercial customers with the electric version of its TGE van – the new MAN eTGE.

One may easily mistake the MAN eTGE as the Volkswagen e-Crafter. This isn't surprising since its diesel version -- the TGE – is essentially a twin of the VW Crafter. Thus, the MAN eTGE shares its DNA and basic architecture with the e-Crafter. However, compared to its e-Crafter twin, the eTGE is less powerful and offers lesser electric range. Nonetheless, MAN says the eTGE is just right for its target market, which already includes of Germany, Austria, Belgium, France, Norway and the Netherlands. Customers could avail of this electric light commercial vehicle at a price of around €69,500.

The new MAN eTGE is powered by a permanently excited synchronous motor that could deliver 100 kW of output and 290 Nm of instant torque. Getting its juice from a rechargeable battery with a power capacity of 36 kWh, the electric motor allows the eTGE to go as fast as 90 km/h (56 mph). However, this energy capacity is just enough to allow the eTGE to go as far as 160 km (100 miles), which is mainly dependent on the load of this all-electric van. MAN eTGE has a permitted total weight of 3.5 or 4.25 tons as well as a maximum load of between 950 kg to 1,700 kg, depending on the configuration.

While both the MAN eTGE and the VW e-Crafter feature electric motors with same capacity, their batteries differ a lot. The rechargeable battery in the VW e-Crafter has a power capacity of 43 kWh, while the one inside the eTGE could only hold 36 kWh. This allows the e-Crafter to offer 40 km more range than the eTGE at 200 km. Nonetheless, MAN has an explanation for this. According to the truck company, around 70 percent of light commercial vehicles in urban areas travel an average distance of less than 100 km a day, on an average speed that is low. Thus, the theoretical range of the eTGE (up to 160 km) already covers around three-quarters of all urban-core transport.

As for charging time, customers could recharge the battery of the eTGE up to 80 percent of its capacity in around 45 minutes when using a 40-kWh charging station. When charging from a conventional socket, it takes around 5.5 hours to complete this charge. It takes around nine hours to get a full charge from a 220V AC. When properly maintain, the 36 kWh rechargeable battery only loses around 15 percent of its capacity after 10 years and around 2,000 charging cycles.

As standard, the MAN eTGE is equipped with a navigation system, heated windscreen and emergency brake assist (EBA), as well as other features.

PRESS RELEASE

MAN eTGE – Zero Emissions for Customers

MAN eTGE to be mass-produced from July onwards // MAN eTGE for use in urban areas

MAN is now selling a fully electric van, another step forwards in the direction of zero-emission metropolitan areas. The MAN eTGE will meet the demand for future distribution and freight transport in urban areas with its electric motor. Providing a range of up to 160 kilometres and a payload of 950 to 1,700 kilo-grams, the electric MAN TGE is ideally equipped for these tasks, depending on the type approval (3.5 or 4.25 tonnes).

For around ten years, MAN Truck & Bus has been working on inno-vative concepts for supplying and removing material in the urban environment. Cities increasingly find themselves faced with the challenge of reconciling a healthy climate and their inhabitants’ quality-of-life demands with the transport of goods and deliveries in central urban areas. This problem involves developing ideas for re-ducing traffic at specific times and relocating it out of the city alto-gether, new approaches to the use of land, plus new transport and drive concepts. In view of this situation, MAN Truck & Bus has put forward a wide variety of ideas and studies from the truck and bus sectors in recent years. Advancing these ideas consistently, the sales of MAN’s first fully electric-powered production vehicle are now underway with the eTGE.

Around 70 percent of light commercial vehicles used in urban areas travel fewer than 100 kilometres per day on average. The average speed reached during this is low. With this in mind, the vehicle’s theoretical range of up to 160 kilometres covers about three-quarters of all urban-core transport. Sooner or later, as with mobile phones, it will be completely normal to plug a fully electric vehicle in to charge for the coming day – usually overnight.

Charging times vary. A 40 kW charging station fills a battery up to 80 percent in 45 minutes. The MAN eTGE can be restored to full opera-tional capacity after just under five and a half hours on an alternat-ing current wallbox. Approximately nine hours are needed for a full charge with 220V AC. With the relevant battery maintenance, the 36 kWh rechargeable battery only loses around 15 percent of its ca-pacity after ten years and around 2,000 charging cycles. Especially since individual modules of six or twelve cells can be replaced sepa-rately. The modules are located under the slightly higher load floor, as used for rear-wheel drive body versions with diesel engines.

The choice made for the electric front-wheel drive TGE was a per-manently excited synchronous motor with 100 kW maximum availa-ble power. It has 290 Nm of torque at its immediate disposal, which can also be used over the entire speed range, ensuring highly agile handling. Combined with the maximum speed of 90 km/h, this re-sults in fuel consumption of around 20 kWh per 100 kilometres.

In addition to the carrying capacity, the assistance systems have al-so remained unaffected by the electric technology. The eTGE comes with a comprehensive range of built-in standard equipment, includ-ing a navigation system, heated windscreen and other features that help to make driving easier and safer. Naturally, as with all TGEs, the emergency brake assist (EBA) continues to be installed as standard.

In the initial phase of the roll-out, the MAN eTGE can be ordered with the standard wheelbase and high roof. The product line is pri-marily aimed at fleet customers with a tailored service concept to tend to their needs. Initial customer enquiries and signed sales con-tracts have already been made for the MAN eTGE, which costs around €69,500. The first electric-powered vans from MAN are to be used for the first time in metropolitan areas of Germany, Austria, Belgium, France, Norway and the Netherlands.