Golden Arrow to introduce 60 electric buses per year starting 2024

The Golden Arrow Bus Service (GABS) in Cape Town plans to introduce 60 electric buses every year starting in 2024 to ultimately replace its full fleet of 1 100 diesel-powered vehicles.

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In 2021, the bus operator implemented a BYD K9 electric bus on a trial basis to test the feasibility of the vehicle to transport commuters in and around the city. In September 2022, GABS acquired another electric vehicle which is more suited to its special operational requirements.

During this trial phase, the buses completed 7 000km without passengers (but with the weight of the maximum number of occupants modelled using sandbags to ensure that the vehicles could continue operating). In June 2021, the operator completed 50 000km with passengers to test the vehicles’ safety and range.

The real-life trials revealed that the electric buses could operate on the steepest inclines, notably Hospital Bend on the M3. In addition, the company found that it could save R657 000 per year on diesel costs by switching to electric, and achieve a 50% savings in spare parts and 80% on oils and lubricants.

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According to Top Auto, the company has been steadily reducing its carbon footprint since 2017 by installing grid-tied solar panels at six of its bus depots in the City, which currently produce 1.7MW.

It will take approximately 18 years to fully convert its entire fleet at an annual investment of about R324 million to R486 million, which translates into a total investment of R5.8 billion.

As per Top Auto, GABS is considering solar carports and ground-mounted solar installations where possible to fill the gap in renewable energy that is required for its future operations. The company will also develop an electric bus charging strategy to lower the impact on customers.

While the company currently has two AC chargers and one DC charger at its depot, future scenarios possibly involve the placing of DC fast chargers at certain bus stops to enable charging while en route.

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Also read:

Golden Arrow inches closer to introducing 60 locally-made electric buses

Picture: Golden Arrow Bus Services / Facebook