MAN 18.240 HOCL-NL (A69)

The MAN 18.xxx HOCL-NL series is a low-entry (zero step entry, flat floor until the rear axle, and raised floor to the back seat) city bus chassis built by the German truck and bus manufacturer MAN Truck & Bus.

In 2008, SBS Transit received an 18.240 HOCL-NL demonstrator unit bodied by Gemilang Coachwork, with a front and rear design based on the MAN Lion's City. This bus is mounted on the MAN A69 chassis - the same used for the 18.280 HOCL-R-NL and 18.310 HOCL-R-NL. The 18.240 HOCL-NL is essentially a city bus chassis that has an 18 tonnes gross vehicle weight rating, with a 240hp engine.

The overall interior design resembled the Gemilang bodied Scania K230UBs. According to the director of the MAN distributor, Gemilang was chosen as a bodywork to provide a reference for SBST to compare the chassis of MAN 18.240 versus Scania K230UB, where MAN demonstrated that a wider aisle is possible throughout the length of the bus with a smaller wheel housing. The two wheelchair slots are more spacious than that of Scania's, and the legroom of the seats behind are bigger with the same number of seats as a Scania. In addition, there are five elderly-friendly seats in comparison with the four on the Scania.

Despite several design advantages as outlined above, the bus was returned to the dealer and no further purchases were made from SBS at the end of a 2-year trial in 2010. It was subsequently loaned to DNATA for terminal operations inside Changi Airport, and made a brief overseas visit to Indonesia for an exhibition, before returning to Singapore. A private operator eventually purchased it in 2014. However, a year later the bus was sold again and converted into a 'Lab on Wheels' bus for the Infocomm Development Authority.