Cape Town MyCiTi to Launch First Electric Bus and Claremont Transport Hub, Advancing Urban Mobility and Logistics Efficiency
Cape Town’s MyCiTi bus network is preparing to introduce its first electric bus in August 2026, marking a key step in the city’s transition toward lower-emission urban mobility.
At the same time, construction is advancing on a major integrated transport hub in Claremont, designed to improve connectivity across multiple public transport operators.
Together, these developments signal a shift toward more efficient, coordinated and lower-carbon public transport systems in South African cities, with broader implications for urban mobility across the SADC region.
Electric bus rollout begins
MyCiTi currently operates a fleet of approximately 347 buses across 39 routes, serving 42 stations and nearly 1,000 stops.
The network is now preparing to begin phased electrification with the arrival of a 12-metre Volvo BZR electric bus in August 2026, as part of an initial rollout of 30 electric buses.
While the initial number is modest relative to the full fleet, the rollout is intended to provide operational learning on charging infrastructure, route performance, depot adaptation and maintenance requirements before wider scale-up.
Claremont hub to improve integration
Alongside electrification, Cape Town is developing a major MyCiTi station in Claremont. By mid-2026, foundation work involving 583 concrete piles had been completed, with construction progressing to the ground-floor stage.
The facility is being designed as a multi-operator interchange, integrating MyCiTi services with Golden Arrow Bus Services and University of Cape Town transport routes, enabling smoother passenger transfers and reducing network fragmentation.
Transport integration of this kind is expected to improve efficiency by concentrating passenger flows, reducing duplicate services and strengthening overall network usability.
Implications for urban freight and mobility
Although primarily a passenger transport development, the shift toward electrified and integrated bus networks also has implications for urban freight systems.
Reduced congestion from more efficient public transport can improve road conditions for delivery vehicles and reduce last-mile logistics costs.
The electrification process also provides operational insights relevant to logistics operators, particularly around charging infrastructure, fleet range management and depot redesign challenges that will also apply to electric delivery and distribution fleets as adoption increases across the region.
Cape Town’s approach offers a practical model for how cities in the SADC region can gradually transition toward cleaner, more integrated and more efficient urban transport systems.
