Cape Town orders 38 Volvo low-entry electric city buses

Volvo Buses will supply 38 Volvo BZR Low Entry Electric buses to the City of Cape Town, South Africa. The buses will operate within the city’s electric passenger transport system.

“This is a landmark project for both Cape Town and for us. We can be very proud to introduce electric buses to the city, and in doing so, prove that we acknowledge and support a sustainable future,” says Leon Nelson, Director, Volvo Buses in South Africa.

The Volvo BZRLE Electric is based on Volvo’s’ flexible BZR platform. The bus bodies will be locally designed and manufactured by Gauteng Bus and Coach Centre in Johannesburg. The charging infrastructure will be managed by the City of Cape Town.

Volvo Buses has acted as a strategic advisor throughout the electrification process, supporting infrastructure planning and system implementation.

“The first buses are scheduled for delivery in 2027,” says Rob Quintas, City Councillor responsible for urban mobility in Cape Town. “We have ordered a minimum of 38 buses, but this number may increase with funding availability. The new buses will be paid for by means of Public Transport National Grant funding.”

“This project demonstrates how electrification can be implemented in a way that strengthens local capabilities, builds technical competence, and contributes to the development of a future-ready public transport ecosystem,” says Manish Sahi, Vice President, Volvo Buses MIAC.

Source: Volvo Buses