MAN is offering more a practical solution to
business owners with the new eTGE Combi. Presented online prior to its 2019 Bus
World debut set for next week in Brussels, Belgium, it’s a passenger version of
the panel van that was launched last year, with Volkswagen Crafter
underpinnings and electric power.
The eTGE Combi will not be
offered to private buyers as a Mercedes-Benz EQV alternative that’s easier on
the wallet. Instead, it will target business owners who need zero-emission
shuttle buses, as it’s aimed at “inner-city passenger transportation in
particular”.
The only visual updates that set it apart from the
regular eTGE are the body-colored bumpers and rear windows. Sliding the side
door backwards reveals a practical interior, with room for up to nine occupants
and seats fixed using airline-style rails. The 5,986 mm long Combi
comes with a reversing camera, cruise control with speed limiter, automatic
emergency braking and heated seats on all rows. As an option, MAN can fit it
with a wheelchair lift in the rear.
The 136 PS and 290 Nm of torque electric motor mounted at the front is carried over from the panel
van, together with the 35.8 kWh lithium-ion battery. Charging it takes 5.5
hours using a 7.2 kW AC wallbox and 45 minutes from 0 to 80 percent at a 40 kW
fast charging station. In the WLTP test cycle, the eTGE Combi has a range
identical to the cargo hauler, which at 114 km, is rather low.
Aimed at the public transportation network in rural
areas, the new MAN TGE 4×4 Intercity will also be on deck at Bus World, along
with the TGE City minibus.
