Cape Town is set to introduce its first electric bus in August, launching a transition toward cleaner public transport as cities across the world shift away from diesel fleets, Business Insider Africa reported.
The bus will be the first of 30 planned for the city’s MyCiTi rapid transit system, with 13 additional units expected before the end of 2026 and the full batch scheduled for delivery by June 2027. Passenger operations are expected to begin from July 2027 if timelines hold.
City officials said the rollout will start in the metro south-east, including routes tied to the delayed Phase 2A expansion linking communities such as Mitchells Plain and Khayelitsha to key commercial areas.
The initial fleet will consist of 12-metre Volvo BZRLE buses, with bodies produced in Johannesburg, supporting local manufacturing capacity in cleaner vehicle technology.
The project comes amid growing global adoption of electric buses, led by China and expanding across Europe, Latin America and parts of Africa as battery costs decline and operators seek lower long-term transport expenses.
Cape Town said international data shows some fleets achieving up to 70% savings in fuel and maintenance costs.
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Rob Quintas said the timing of the rollout reflects current global conditions. “The delivery of the electric bus fleet cannot be more timeous, given the volatility of the energy markets and uncertain geopolitical environment,” he said.
To assess performance under local conditions, the city will work with the University of Cape Town on a 12-month pilot programme.
The study will evaluate battery durability, charging times, passenger volumes, route demands and weather-related energy use, with results guiding future investment, infrastructure development and operational planning ahead of a broader rollout from 2027.
While electric buses remain costly upfront, officials view them as a long-term safeguard against rising diesel prices and currency volatility, challenges that continue to affect fast-growing urban transport systems across Africa.
What this means for Africa
Cape Town’s move signals a shift in how African cities are thinking about transport, less about short-term cost, more about long-term stability. With fuel prices and exchange rates constantly fluctuating, electric buses offer a way to reduce exposure to those shocks over time.
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Image Credit: Steven Ndukwu
