Cape Town’s public transport system is preparing for a significant shift, with the first electric buses expected to arrive later this year as part of a phased rollout aimed at modernising the city’s fleet.
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The plan, driven by City of Cape Town, will see 30 electric buses introduced between August 2026 and June 2027, marking a gradual move toward lower-emission travel across key MyCiTi routes.
If timelines hold, the first electric bus will be delivered by August this year, followed by 13 more before the end of the year. The remaining vehicles will be added in stages through mid-2027.
The buses, 12-metre Volvo BZRLE models, also signal a boost for local manufacturing, with their bodies produced in Johannesburg.
Before passengers see the buses in regular service, the city plans to put them through a year-long trial on existing MyCiTi routes.
This phase will examine how the vehicles perform across different route profiles, how battery life holds up under varying passenger volumes, and how climate conditions affect charging cycles and efficiency.
To support this, the city is partnering with the University of Cape Town, with funding also coming from the Urban Electric Mobility Initiative.
‘The delivery of the electric bus fleet cannot be more timeous, given the volatility of the energy markets and uncertain geopolitical environment. Apart from lowering our carbon emissions, an electric bus fleet could offer multiple other benefits, especially as far as maintenance and operational costs are concerned,’ said Councillor Rob Quintas, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility.
He then explained that some countries have reported up to 70% lower operating costs with electric buses, and Cape Town will conduct its own research to assess potential savings locally
He added: ‘The research will help us understand how the electric buses will perform in our local context, and what challenges we need to consider before we roll-out the e-bus fleet in 2027.’
If the pilot phase proves successful, the first operational routes are expected to link parts of the metro-south east, including Mitchells Plain and Khayelitsha, as well as corridors connecting Wynberg, Claremont and the Cape Town CBD.
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