Cape Town’s public transport system has gone a little bit greener. This follows the introduction of 20 electric commuter buses recently taken delivery of by the bus company, Golden Arrow. This number will be expanded later this year. The company plans to get another 100 more electric buses before year-end.
Meyer added, “This is a historic moment for our country that we can all be proud of.”
READ MORE: Golden Arrow Bus fares to increase by 7%
Cape Town’s public transport system has gone greener
The company’s Chief Executive Officer, Francois Meyer says the 120 buses represent over 10% of Golden Arrow’s total fleet. He says the buses will operate across various routes. Meyer added that the new buses were given a resounding thumbs up by the Company’s passenger forums. The feedback they have from passengers and the public so far, has also been overwhelmingly positive.
Bus company goes a tad greener
Meyer says they have come full circle as a company as they were also behind the wheel of the first electric tram in South Africa some 129 years ago. Now, they have become the first commuter bus company to introduce electric buses into service at scale. Meyer has stressed that he believes this is a key moment not only for Golden Arrow but for the local transport industry.
“This is an opportunity for businesses across the supply chain to diversify their offerings, embrace sustainable transport solutions and create jobs,” Meyer said.
The South African commuter bus industry
He added that their journey with this kind of bus started in 2021. That’s when Golden Arrow Bus Services began testing 2 electric buses. At that time, there was a great deal of uncertainty around suitability for the South African commuter bus industry. But Meyer says after intensive testing, international observations and enabled by innovative partnerships, Golden Arrow has taken delivery of the first 20 electric buses which will be followed by 100 more buses to be delivered over this year. He says the Company has installed 30 charging units, with two dispensers each, the largest of its kind in South Africa. The charging facility will be expanded to 60 chargers with a total of 120 dispensers during the second half of 2025.
Meyer says, “Innovation, backed by data and testing, is key to transforming the South African economy.”
What others say:
The Western Cape Minister of Mobility, Isaac Sileku -> “As a cornerstone of Cape Town’s public transport system, Golden Arrow Bus Services is leading the way in reducing greenhouse gas emissions by introducing these electric buses into its fleet. In the public transport sector, the shift to electric vehicles is critical to achieving sustainable mobility for commuters and creating economic opportunities and job creation in various sectors of the province. These vehicles also create opportunities for entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized enterprises in the electric mobility sector and take us closer to achieving our long-term vision to be a net zero emissions, climate resilient and job creating province.”
Golden Arrow Bus Services Company Engineer, Gideon Neethling -> “As part of planning for this project, we visited several international electric bus operations and the golden thread behind their successes were partnerships with business, government and civil society. We have been engaging with a variety of stakeholders and will be looking to establish further partnerships so that this project can benefit the transport industry and economy.”
MORE ABOUT: The bus company Golden Arrow
