Golden Arrow Bus Services (GABS) has taken a significant step toward transforming public transportation in Cape Town with the introduction of electric vehicles (EVs) into its fleet.
The company has signed a Memorandum of Co-operation (MOC) with Eskom, outlining the terms for ongoing collaboration related to the integration of electric buses into the South African public transport sector.
This partnership marks a major milestone in the country’s shift towards more sustainable transportation solutions.
Francois Meyer, CEO of Golden Arrow Bus Services, said the successful introduction of electric buses will require a number of partnerships across the value chain.
“Introducing electric buses at scale requires partnerships between large electricity generators, distributors and users – this MOC will enable us to work together to provide a public bus service which is safe, reliable and cost effective,” he said.
As part of the agreement, Golden Arrow plans to procure renewable energy from independent power producers (IPPs) in addition to Eskom’s supply.
Eskom’s role will extend to providing power distribution for potential future wheeling agreements, facilitating the growth of the electric vehicle infrastructure necessary for the project.
Golden Arrow aims to replace 10% of its fleet with electric buses by the end of 2025, a bold move that will generate valuable data for the South African public transport industry. Meyer noted that the data collected will allow others to make informed decisions about electric mobility in South Africa.
The rollout of electric buses is already underway, with Golden Arrow adding its first 20 electric vehicles (EVs) to its fleet. By the end of 2025, an additional 120 EVs are expected to join the service.
Golden Arrow has already installed 30 charging stations with 60 dispensers in Cape Town. The company plans to double this number by the end of the year to support the growing fleet of electric buses.
To ensure a reliable power supply for the vehicles, Golden Arrow will draw on both solar energy and off-peak electricity from Eskom.
The electric buses, which are manufactured by Chinese company BYD, have been in testing since 2020, with two buses introduced to the commuter service in 2021. Subsequent buses were introduced in 2022 and 2023 for further testing.
The city will also introduce 77 electric buses to its MyCiti fleet by 2027.
