Cape Town – Mayor Jordyn Hill-Lewis welcomed the arrival of Cape Town’s first fully electric MyCiTi bus, Evie.
This first bus passed rigorous performance tests on several routes.
Mayor Hill-Lewis has revealed that the city has confirmed an order for an initial 38 battery electric buses as part of a broader plan for a public transport system that is cleaner, smarter and less susceptible to diesel price fluctuations.
The electric bus fleet will be deployed along a major new route expansion on the Cape Flats, benefiting more than 1.4 million residents across 30 districts, from Mitchells Plain and Khayelitsha to Wynberg and Claremont.
This is the largest public transport project in the South East, with a total infrastructure investment of R7.1 billion to date.
“This morning I rode Cape Town’s first electric MyCiTi bus and I am excited to announce that it has passed all performance tests,” Mayor Hill-Lewis said.
“We have now given the green light for the production of 38 of these battery electric vehicles and the first batch is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
“The main advantage of electric buses is that they are affordable for customers.
“These electric buses will make our fleet less susceptible to fluctuations in diesel prices, meaning fares will be more stable and affordable for commuters.
“These are the first electric buses with locally manufactured bodies and will be fully assembled in South Africa.
“In this way, we are happy to support employment and economic growth.”
The e-bus has been tested on a variety of routes to ensure its performance on steep hills and downhills, in stop-and-go urban environments, in peak traffic jams, and on long journeys.
“It’s a great moment to confirm that our first electric bus has been rigorously tested and successfully meets our requirements,” said Councilor Rob Quintas, Chair of the Mayor’s Committee for Urban Mobility.
“We heard she achieved perfect speed on Hospital Bend, which is known for its steep hills, and did equally well on other routes such as the N2 motorway, Camps Bay, which has a lot of stop-go traffic, and Polkadraai Road and Zip de Jager Drive.
“From now on, the remaining 37 electric buses will go into production and be built on this bus.”
In total, the city will take over 38 of these 12 meter Volvo BZRLE battery electric buses.
The first batch is expected to arrive by the end of the year, with final deliveries expected by the end of March 2027.
“The buses will be tested on arrival and will be deployed on routes once the necessary processes are completed,” Councilor Quintas said.
“Bus drivers also need to be trained.
“The procurement of the city’s first e-fleet is a major achievement and will support the transition to a cleaner and more sustainable public transport system, which is not only more cost-effective to operate and maintain, but also more resilient in keeping Cape Town moving.”
Acquiring more battery electric buses remains a strategic priority for the city, but it is dependent on the availability of future funding from central government.
MyCiTi passenger numbers have increased by 68% since 2021, reaching 23 million passenger trips annually, and are expected to reach 30 million once the Cape Flats extension is operational.
Cape Town's MyCiTi is the most successful service of its kind, accounting for 42% of bus rapid transit (BRT) passenger trips nationwide.
