Green buses to run in Cape Town next year

In its effort to reduce carbon emissions, the City of Cape Town has announced the roll out of 10 electric buses for the MyCiTi service in 2017. The tender, valued at R126 million was awarded to BYD, a Chinese electric car and rechargeable battery manufacturer which has a branch in South Africa.

“The procurement of the electric buses affirms our commitment made at COP21 in Paris where I committed to ensure that the City of Cape Town takes decisive action and pursues ambitious climate action projects that are not only beneficial to residents but most importantly, the environment” said Patricia De Lille, Cape Town’s mayor.

AD Huang, General Manager of BYD Middle East and Africa Auto Sales Division said, “Cape Town’s deployment of electric buses is the first showcase of a clean and sustainable transport system in Africa, the success of this project will encourage other African cities to develop their own green public transport projects.”

This contract will also provide local residents with job opportunities as the contract with BYD stipulates that the buses are assembled locally.

Photo source: BYD