Cape Town's public transport network has taken a major step towards a cleaner future, with the arrival of the City's first battery-electric MyCiTi bus ahead of a wider fleet rollout planned for 2027.
The prototype bus, which recently arrived from Johannesburg, where its body was manufactured, will spend the coming weeks travelling on routes across Cape Town as part of a pilot programme to test how it performs under local driving conditions.
Residents may spot the low-floor electric bus on roads including Hospital Bend, the N2, Camps Bay, Polkadraai Road and Jip de Jager Drive as engineers assess its performance on steep inclines, in stop-start traffic, during peak-hour congestion and over longer distances.
According to the City, the pilot marks a significant milestone for the MyCiTi service, which has been operating for 16 years.
"This is a major highlight in the MyCiTi journey and supports our transition towards a cleaner, more sustainable public transport system," said the City's mayoral committee member for urban mobility, Rob Quintas.
According to the City, electric buses could reduce operating costs by as much as 70% compared with conventional vehicles, while also lowering emissions and improving the long-term resilience of Cape Town's public transport system.
The prototype is one of 38 battery-electric buses that will be delivered as part of the next phase of the MyCiTi expansion into the metro-south east. The 12-metre Volvo BZRLE buses are also the first in the MyCiTi fleet to feature bodies designed in South Africa and manufactured locally in Gauteng.
The research project is being conducted in partnership with the University of Cape Town and will evaluate battery performance, energy consumption, charging times, passenger loads, and the impact of Cape Town's weather and terrain on the vehicle's performance.
The findings will help the City determine charging strategies, maintenance requirements, driver training, and infrastructure needs before the electric fleet enters scheduled passenger service.
If testing is successful, the first electric MyCiTi buses are expected to begin operating from July 1, 2027, serving routes between Mitchells Plain and Khayelitsha, Wynberg and Claremont, as well as services within the Cape Town CBD.
The City says expanding the electric bus fleet remains a long-term priority, although future purchases will depend on funding from the national government.
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