South Africa’s first active electric bus has officially been launched in Cape Town. Golden Arrow Bus Services earlier this year started testing two fully electric buses to determine the viability of a carbon-neutral fleet.

Sufficient testing has now been done and as of this month, the buses will be incorporated into Golden Arrow’s day-to-day operations, carrying passengers between Retreat and Cape Town.

It all started in 2017

Golden Arrow’s renewable energy journey started in 2017 with the pilot installation of two solar plants of 25 kilowatts each. The results were encouraging and ultimately led to two of its facilities being declared carbon neutral in 2020.

Given the success of projects to date, Golden Arrow decided to take on its next project, testing an electric bus. The company partnered with Chinese bus manufacturer Build Your Dreams (BYD) and uYilo to test two 100% electric buses for a 12-month period. One bus was tested without passengers, while the other was loaded with sandbags, equivalent to 44 passengers in weight.

According to GABS, from July 2021 the two electric buses have been incorporated into Golden Arrow’s day-to-day operations, carrying passengers between Retreat and Cape Town.

Western Cape Transport MEC Daylin Mitchell said that his department was working with Golden Arrow on a number of technology solutions to improve public transport in the province.

“My department endorses innovation programmes such as this one given the challenges our commuters experience in the absence of the passenger rail system. The narrative around safety on Golden Arrow buses is very different. After taking a ride in this bus, I’m confident that the passengers will feel safe during their journey.”

The narrative around safety on Golden Arrow busses is very different. After taking a ride in this bus, I am confident passengers will feel safe during their journey. @WCGovTPW @WesternCapeGov pic.twitter.com/4wL4wfj6pv

— MEC Daylin Mitchell (@mec_mitchell) July 5, 2021

Testing phase was rigorous

Golden Arrow engineer Gideon Neethling said the testing phase of the electric bus has been rigorous.

“For the first few months, we tested the buses in a range of circumstances without passengers. The aim was to get to know exactly how these vehicles perform before incorporating them into our operations. Testing these vehicles has been a joy for everyone who is part of the project. Each time we carry out a new test or reach a new milestone, the level of excitement increases further,” said Neethling.

He added there was much to be learnt about the new bus including electricity usage under different conditions, charge time between trips, possible scheduling challenges as a result of charge times, maintenance needs, battery degradation and other general operational challenges compared to the currently used internal combustion engine.

Golden Arrow’s trailblazing transport solutions include the testing of free wi-fi on buses, an electronic smartcard fare system and now the first electric bus to operate in active service in South Africa.

Golden Arrow currently operates a contract for scheduled passenger bus services administered by the Western Cape Department of Transport and Public Works. The company operates more than 1 000 peak-hour buses transporting 250 000 passengers daily and boasts a more than 96% on-time rating for first departures.