Cape Town-based Golden Arrow Bus Services will begin deploying its new fleet of 60 electric buses in the first quarter of 2025.

The company has invested over R400 million in these buses and the necessary infrastructure at its three depots, says Gideon Neethling, Golden Arrow Bus Services Engineer.

The electric buses will be introduced gradually. Five buses will be added to the fleet each month over the course of a year. At the same time, Golden Arrow will increase the number of available chargers at its depots where 120 kWh chargers currently charge a battery for 100 km in one hour.

The company has been testing three 37-seater K9 electric buses, manufactured by Chinese energy solutions company BYD, since 2021. The buses are powered by iron-phosphate batteries with a capacity range of 100-600 kWh. The new electric buses are expected to have a 200 km range on a full charge, enabling daily operation of nearly 400 km with two charging opportunities per day. The batteries take approximately two hours to charge from empty to full. Golden Arrow's current standard internal combustion buses are equipped with 250-litre diesel tanks, providing a range of over 500 km per tank.

By transitioning the fleet from internal combustion to electric buses, the company anticipates cost improvements. Presently, around 31% of Golden Arrow’s overall expenses are allocated to fuel. The initial estimate is that the new electric buses will cost about 2,5 times more than the internal combustion buses. However, the energy costs are 70% lower per kilometre compared to an internal combustion bus. Additionally, it is estimated that there will be a 50% reduction in spare parts costs and a 30% reduction in maintenance costs. Neethling anticipates a substantial return on investment within 12 years.

Golden Arrow plans to source a significant portion of the electricity needed for its buses from renewable energy. The main depot in Montana is already equipped with solar photovoltaic panels covering the entire rooftop and the car parking spaces have been replaced with solar carports. There are also plans to expand this initiative by developing renewable generating capacity across the entire 22-ha property, which will feed into the electric bus infrastructure.

“As we expand our charging infrastructure, our plan is to use solar power to charge the buses during the day and take advantage of off-peak electricity tariffs to charge them at night. Charging patterns will be tailored to meet our operational needs,” explains Neethling.