Just last week we had a news post up about the MyCiti Bus Service, saying that passengers would soon be able to enjoy free WiFi while on board or waiting at stations. Now it looks like Cape Town’s modern buses are (eventually) going electric.

Cape Town mayoral committee member for transport, Brett Herron, says they will soon issue a tender for the purchase of electric buses, adding that they’re also doing research into the possibility of using biofuel-powered buses. Herron made the remarks at a continental public transport workshop that took place in the Mother City last week.

Herron says the MyCiti Bus Service transports around 60,000 passengers a day, and the buses travel more than 1.27-million kilometres per month. He maintains that while the service has improved the lives of many city residents, finding alternative energy sources is a key priority because the current generation has a responsibility to lower carbon emissions and the impact of pollution on the urban landscape. Electric buses also run silently, says Herron, meaning there will be a significant reduction in noise pollution for those living near bus routes.

But is something like this really viable in a country like South Africa? Or is this announcement the City of Cape Town’s way of paying lip-service to the ‘green movement’? We’re already dealing with a massive electricity problem, with load shedding expected to continue well into 2018. We’re always glad to see improvements being made to our city, and there’s no doubting that the MyCiti Bus Service has been a big step in the right direction. Time will tell.

Do you use the MyCiti Bus Service? What are your thoughts on electric, biofuel-powered and hybrid public transport?

 

 

 

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