Cape Town Launches South Africa's First Electric Buses

Cape Town residents can now ride the country's first fleet of electric buses as the city rolls out 38 battery-powered vehicles across its public transport network.

Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis unveiled the Volvo e-buses, nicknamed "Evie," on July 24 in Khayelitsha. The buses will connect more than 30 communities, including Mitchells Plain, Wynberg, Claremont, and Cape Town's central business district as part of a $427 million expansion of the MyCiTi bus system.

Here's what makes this launch particularly exciting: these are the first electric buses manufactured in South Africa for South African roads. The frames were assembled locally, showing that the country's car manufacturing ambitions are becoming reality.

Cape Town has been preparing for this moment since 2020, when it started testing electric buses. Golden Arrow Bus Services, another operator in the city, now runs over 80 electric buses, proving the technology works on local roads.

The city isn't rushing the rollout. Cape Town partnered with the University of Cape Town for a 12-month research program to study how the batteries perform and how long charging takes before expanding the full fleet. More buses are scheduled to arrive in March 2027.

The Ripple Effect

This shift to electric buses couldn't come at a better time for South Africa. The country has lost roughly half its oil refining capacity in recent years and now imports most of its fuel, making it Africa's largest fuel importer.

Electric buses protect Cape Town from potential fuel shortages and price spikes that could disrupt public transport. Every electric bus on the road means less dependence on imported fuel and cleaner air for communities.

The investment also creates local manufacturing jobs and positions South Africa as a leader in electric vehicle production across the continent. Other African cities watching Cape Town's success may soon follow with their own electric fleets.

The expansion will bring reliable, clean public transport to communities that have long needed better connections to job centers and services. Residents in Mitchells Plain and Khayelitsha gain faster, more comfortable routes to Cape Town's CBD.

There's one challenge ahead: South Africa's National Treasury is cutting funding for bus rapid transit systems by $500 million over three years. Mayor Hill-Lewis emphasized that continuing the expansion depends on keeping national support flowing, but the city remains committed to building a greener transport future for all its residents.