South Africa is set to make a historic shift towards sustainable transportation with the arrival of its first electric bus fleet. Golden Arrow Bus Services has inked a deal with Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD to secure 120 zero-emission buses, marking a significant milestone in the country’s journey towards a greener future.
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This agreement, hailed by BYD as “an historic step,” signifies a strong commitment from both companies to reduce carbon emissions and revolutionize public transport in South Africa. The BYD electric buses have undergone rigorous testing with Golden Arrow since 2021, ensuring their robustness and reliability under demanding conditions.
These 12.5-meter long giants, equipped with lithium-iron-phosphate batteries, can comfortably seat 65 passengers each. BYD’s testing program included simulating peak passenger capacity scenarios and conquering Cape Town’s steepest inclines, proving the vehicles are up to the task of handling South Africa’s diverse transportation needs.
“Under demanding conditions such as simulating peak passenger capacities and conquering Cape Town’s steepest inclines, the robustness and reliability of BYD’s electric buses were unequivocally demonstrated,” BYD stated in a press release.
Golden Arrow CEO Francois Meyer expressed his company’s pride in pioneering electric bus technology within South Africa’s public transport industry. While the financial details of the deal remain undisclosed, the impact promises to be significant.
The first batch of these eco-friendly buses is expected to hit the road in December of this year, with the entire fleet scheduled for full delivery by December 2025. This landmark collaboration between BYD and Golden Arrow signifies a positive step towards cleaner air and a more sustainable future for South Africa’s transportation landscape.
BYD boasts a proven track record, having delivered over 80,000 electric buses to cities across the globe. These zero-emission vehicles are already a familiar sight on the streets of Amsterdam, London, Tokyo, and Sao Paulo, and soon, South Africa will join the ranks of these environmentally conscious metropolises.