MAN Engines has further developed its established E32 gas engine series technically. According to the press release, the focus of the update for the engine types E3262 LE272 (natural gas) and LE282 (biogas) is revised turbochargers designed to improve robustness and service life. The revised turbochargers use a dry turbine housing with insulation without additional water-conducting lines. This is intended to reduce potential leaks and prevent thermal hotspots when the coolant flow is insufficient.
Additionally, MAN Engines uses new axial and plain bearings made from a special bronze alloy, which are said by the manufacturer to be more corrosion-resistant and promise longer service lives. The aim of these measures is to achieve an overall higher operational safety, especially under demanding operating conditions.
V12 gas engine MAN E3262 for power and heat generation in markets with strict emission requirements. (Photo: MAN)
Focusing on International Emission Standards
According to MAN Engines, the modernization is oriented towards the requirements of international markets. The revised engine family intrinsically meets the NOx emission limit of 250 mg/Nm³, which is considered a standard in many countries, according to the announcement. Areas with particularly strict NOx requirements – for instance, 100 mg/Nm³ – could be addressed with an external exhaust gas aftertreatment (SCR system).
A higher pressure reserve over the throttle valve is also intended to ensure more stable engine performance, for example, with increased exhaust back pressure or at higher altitudes. The new series is based on the long-proven V12 platform of the E32 family, which has been established since 2012 in stationary applications such as power and heat generation.
Availability and Transition Strategy
According to the press release, the new engine types E3262 LE272 and LE282 replace the previous variants LE202 and LE212. They are available for order now, with the first delivery period starting from the second half of 2026. The predecessor models will continue to be offered in parallel in the medium term to maintain flexibility in project planning and approval processes.
Industry in Transition: Alternative Drives and Biofuels
In the context of this technical update, the question of bridging technologies for decarbonization also plays a role. In the latest market survey conducted by the DSLV Federal Association of Freight Forwarding and Logistics and the German Energy Agency (dena), a majority of the logistics companies surveyed indicated that they want to convert their existing fleets to short-term available, lower-emission solutions.
Thus, 56% of companies stated they intend to increasingly use the climate-friendly diesel replacement HVO100 in the future to reduce CO2 emissions. Bio-CNG and Bio-LNG, however, play a significantly smaller role with about 6% potential as the economic advantages have been limited following the removal of the toll exemption.
Against this background, the modernized gas engine remains particularly relevant for stationary applications or specific industrial use cases, less as a mobility solution in the logistics fleet, but as a transitional technology in existing energy and supply systems where electric alternatives are (still) not feasible.
