EVs are fun and all, but where are all the electric buses? Turns out they’re on order, at least for South Africa. MAN, the company that makes those hulking great trucks that clog up traffic on your way to Durban, has revealed that SA is due to receive 100 new electric city buses, thanks to an order by Paruk Group. Whoever they are.
Perhaps the coolest bit is that while the vehicles have been ordered, they’re not being shipped here. Instead, the Lion’s Explorer E buses will be made here, with construction split between KZN and Gauteng. The Lion’s Chassis E is being made in Pinetown, while the body will come from MAN’s Olifantsfontein plant.
Electric buses, MAN
The Explorer E electric bus isn’t a stranger to South Africa. The first of its type was introduced to Cape Town in 2023. The bus is twelve meters long and runs on four 80kW battery packs, mounted between the vehicle’s axles.
Jan Aichinger, MD of MAN Truck & Bus South Africa, said, “We are proud to not only bring the first MAN eBuses on the African roads, but to be the first manufacturer, across both passenger and commercial vehicles, in the South African automotive industry to localize the production of an electric vehicle.”
We couldn’t find out much about Paruk Group, the entity that placed the order for the electric buses, but apparently, they’re rather involved in South Africa’s fleet market. Mohmed Paruk, Paruk Group’s owner, said, “We operate one of the largest MAN bus fleets globally – a testament to over 30 years of trust, partnership, and shared vision. Our move from diesel to electric isn’t just a technological shift but a promise to our continued focus on sustainable transport solutions in the region.”
The Lion’s Explorer E order should start arriving in the country next year, with all 100 units expected on the road by the close of 2027. It should be fun to see how that electric torque handles intersection pull-offs.
