Hungarian City Miskolc Goes ‘Smart and Green’ with 75 CNG Buses

MAN Truck & Bus had delivered 40 solo and 35 articulated MAN Lion’s City GNC buses to the Hungarian

city of Miskolc. The city’s intention is to modernise its fleet while also striving to improve air quality as

part of the “Smart & Green” programme. The modern and well-equipped vehicles will add to the

renewal of the city (pop. 160,000).

The local transport operator MVK Zrt. expects the buses to deliver a significant improvement in air

quality by reducing harmful emissions. The compressed natural gas (CNG) buses also operate more

quietly than the former diesel buses. “We are proud of being able to contribute to the replacement of

the bus fleet in Miskolc. The first MAN buses were delivered in 2002 and this was followed by the

delivery of Neoplan Centroliner articulated buses in 2006. The latest order represents a new chapter

both for MAN and for our good relationship with the city of Miskolc”, explained Reinhard Faderl, CEO of

MAN Truck & Bus Hungary Kft., at the handover.

All the 75 MAN Lion’s City GNG city buses are designed with low floors. Inside, seating is available for 30

and 42 people respectively, while there is standing space for 54 and 110 passengers respectively.

In the 12-metre long solo bus, the Euro 6 E2876 engine has an output of 272 hp and maximum torque of

1050 Nm at 1100-1700 rpm. The articulated bus is just under 19 metres long and its engine delivers 310

hp and 1250 Nm at 1000-1700 rpm. The tanks holding 1460 litres are used for natural gas refuelling. The

transport provider has invested in its own gas fuel station on the company premises allowing six

commercial vehicles to be refuelled at the same time in a private area and two cars to be refuelled in a

public area. This not only ensures refuelling for the public transport fleet, but also improves the CNG

infrastructure in the region.

The handover of the fleet was preceded by a conference at Miskolc town hall. The transport provider

Kaposvár Transport Zrt, which put 40 MAN Lion’s City CNG buses into operation last autumn, reported at

the conference on the excellent operational experience they had had with the buses. According to the

transport provider, the buses had been more efficient than expected, and it has been possible to

integrate them seamlessly into ongoing operations.

At the evening celebrations, the locals from Miskolc welcomed the new buses with laser shows and

concerts and said farewell to some of their own Ikarus buses with a symbolic gesture.

NGS INDIA