MAN Truck & Bus has announced plans to establish battery repair centres across Europe.
The initiative, set to span Italy, Denmark/Norway, Austria, Belgium, Netherlands, France, Poland, and the UK, with further expansion in the pipeline, will see a multimillion-pound investment over the next two years. Currently, operational centres in Germany and Spain lay the groundwork for this expansion.
This move is in anticipation of the imminent delivery of the new MAN eTruck generation to customers in 2024. With over 1,000 battery-electric MAN city buses and 2,400 all-electric MAN vans already on European roads, the company anticipates a significant rise in EV population.
“Battery repair is a necessity for MAN in order to ensure the economic efficiency and operational readiness of our customers’ electric vehicles at a high level. We also make a major contribution to the closed-loop approach of traction batteries, as this extends the battery life in the vehicle, which conserves important resources,” says Christopher Kunstmann, Senior Vice President Customer Service Management at MAN Truck & Bus.
Each battery repair hub established by MAN aims to cater to markets where the company operates with battery-electric commercial vehicles. These strategically positioned hubs, staffed with highly trained technicians, facilitate swift repairs, thereby reducing vehicle downtime.
To meet practical and legal standards, each repair centre must adhere to specific criteria. This includes the availability of appropriate high-voltage tools tailored to handle various battery types. Additionally, electricians working in these centres are equipped with special protective gear. The premises themselves must meet stringent requirements, such as access control, double doors, air conditioning, ventilation systems, a 400 V socket, and a load crane. These measures ensure efficient and safe repair operations.
