Local supporters set to push the green transport agenda in Cape Town
Swisatec, architect and project managers behind Africa's first green village, Blue Rock Village in the Cape has collaborated with The Green Cab to push the green transport innovation agenda in Cape Town. Swisatec plans to integrate electric vehicle infrastructure as part of its green initiative.
The Green Cab is a multiple award-winning private taxi company, pioneering sustainable mobility for the last five years in Cape Town. The company has recently introduced the innovative, all-electric BMW i3 as its flagship vehicle with plans to launch a fully electric cab division ‘Going Electric’ operating within the Cape Town area.
Picture: Supplied
The car-free concept of the village is to create safe pedestrian living. It is not a village without cars, but a place where one is encouraged to have a lifestyle without one. The envisioned electric shuttle/vehicle will service the whole village. Residents and visitors can summon the electric shuttle with a mobile app, similar to an Uber ride and they will be transported to their destination. This includes airport transfers to encourage less use of vehicles within the village.
Globally, the transport industry contributes around 23% of all carbon dioxide emissions per year, second only to electricity generation, which accounts for +- 42%. It is estimated that vehicles throughout the world burn around 960bn litres of fuel every year and this figure increases every year, as 100m new vehicles are manufactured every year, keeping in mind that petrol powered cars only use 14-16% of energy to power the vehicle.
Blue Rock Village is currently targeting a 6-Star Green Star communities rating by the Green Building Council South Africa; this will position the village as the first green village in Africa to achieve a 6-Star Green Star communities rating.
