The City of Cape Town is expanding its electric bus fleet while developing a plan to introduce lower-emission vehicles across its municipal operations.
The City confirmed that 38 battery-electric MyCiTi buses are scheduled for final delivery by March 2027 as part of the metro-south-east expansion, which is expected to benefit 1.4 million residents across 30 neighbourhoods.
The buses form part of a broader review of the City's approximately 10,000 fleet assets, which support services across the metro. The City is examining how electrification, vehicle tracking and data-led fleet management could improve operational efficiency and reduce environmental impacts.
Electric buses lead the transition
The 38 buses will support the expansion of the MyCiTi network into Cape Town's south-east. The City is also working on a New Energy Vehicle (NEV) Adoption Plan to guide decisions on where electric vehicles can be introduced into its operations.
The transition will extend beyond passenger buses, although the suitability of different vehicle types will depend on their operational requirements, costs and the availability of supporting infrastructure.
Larger vehicles, including those used for specialised municipal services, present additional challenges around charging requirements, vehicle range and purchase costs.
Charging infrastructure and costs remain key considerations
The City highlighted the need to consider charging infrastructure, battery capacity, vehicle suitability and workforce training alongside the purchase of electric vehicles.
Research and planning will be important in determining whether electric vehicles can meet the demands of municipal operations while remaining financially viable over their working lives.
The City's Fleet Management Framework for 2025 to 2030 also focuses on using data and technology to improve fleet efficiency, safety and maintenance.
During the 2025/26 financial year, the department reported that it maintained 99.04% of the municipal fleet.
The City's longer-term Urban Mobility Strategy aims for public transport and active mobility to account for 75% of all daily trips by 2050, with public transport carrying 75% of motorised trips.
The pace of the wider fleet transition will depend on factors including funding, vehicle availability, infrastructure readiness and the ability of different technologies to meet the City's operational needs.
