Volvo Buses to Supply 38 Electric Buses to Cape Town

Volvo Buses to Supply 38 Electric Buses to Cape Town

On August 28, Volvo Buses announced that it will supply 38 Volvo BZR Low Entry Electric buses to the City of Cape Town, introducing the very first locally bodied electric buses in South Africa. The buses will operate within the city’s electric passenger transport system, supporting the transition toward electric urban transportation. The City of Cape Town will manage the charging infrastructure for the buses, establishing the infrastructure arrangement required for their operation within the city’s electric passenger transport system.

Volvo BZRLE Electric Uses Flexible BZR Platform

The Volvo BZRLE Electric is based on Volvo Buses’ flexible BZR platform, which combines energy efficiency, operational reliability and passenger comfort for urban transport systems. The bus bodies will be designed and manufactured locally by the Gauteng Bus and Coach Centre in Johannesburg, making the vehicles locally bodied for their deployment in Cape Town. The platform is intended to support urban transportation requirements while the vehicle design focuses on both operational performance and passenger experience. The buses will feature a modern exterior design and a spacious interior accommodating both seated and standing passengers.

Locally Bodied Electric Buses Mark South African First

The supply agreement brings together Volvo Buses’ electric bus platform and local body manufacturing in Johannesburg for deployment in Cape Town. The 38 buses will form part of the city’s electric passenger transport system, while charging infrastructure will be managed by the City of Cape Town. The involvement of the Gauteng Bus and Coach Centre provides the local manufacturing element that distinguishes the project, as the buses represent the first locally bodied electric buses introduced in South Africa. The combination of local body production, electric propulsion and dedicated charging infrastructure supports the buses’ intended urban transport role.

Frequently Asked Questions

What will Volvo Buses supply to the City of Cape Town?
Volvo Buses will supply 38 Volvo BZR Low Entry Electric buses for Cape Town’s electric passenger transport system, with their bodies manufactured locally in Johannesburg. The buses are based on the flexible BZR platform and are designed to combine energy efficiency, operational reliability and passenger comfort for urban transportation. The City of Cape Town will manage the charging infrastructure. The project also introduces the first locally bodied electric buses in South Africa, with the Gauteng Bus and Coach Centre responsible for designing and manufacturing the bus bodies.