First electric MyCiTi buses arrive in Cape Town: Which routes will they serve?

Cape Town’s first batch of battery-electric MyCiTi buses has arrived, marking another step towards a cleaner public transport fleet.

Seven e-buses arrived from Johannesburg earlier this week, where their bodies are being manufactured. Another 13 are expected next month, with a further 17 due between January and March 2027.

The City of Cape Town is acquiring 38 electric buses for the expansion of its MyCiTi service to the metro-south east.

Which MyCiTi routes will get the electric buses?

If all goes according to plan, 21 of the electric buses will initially operate on the N2 Express service.

The route runs along the N2 highway and serves commuters travelling from Mitchells Plain and Khayelitsha.

The City says other routes could also be considered. This will depend on available capacity and commuter demand.

The remaining buses will bring the electric fleet to 38 once all deliveries are complete.

What do we know about Cape Town’s new FLEET?

The fleet consists of 12-metre Volvo BZRLE battery-electric buses. They can accommodate 59 passengers each.

They are also the first MyCiTi buses with bodies designed in South Africa and manufactured locally in Gauteng.

The City previously received a prototype electric bus in July. It was tested on various routes to assess its performance on steep inclines, downhill stretches and in heavy traffic.

City Mayco Member for Urban Mobility, Rob Quintas, welcomed the latest delivery.

“Given the steep diesel prices in particular, we cannot wait to see the difference the e-fleet will make in the operational expenditure where these buses operate,” he said.

He added that electric buses could deliver significant savings.

“Some countries operating e-buses have noted a reduction of up to 70% in operating costs,” Quintas noted.

The City also hopes the fleet will support a more sustainable and resilient public transport system.

However, further electric bus purchases will depend on the availability of funding from National Government.