The City of Cape Town will issue a tender for the procurement of electric buses for its MyCiTi service, in line with the council’s commitment to lower its carbon footprint, says executive mayor Patricia de Lille.

The tender, to be advertised early in February, will be for the procurement of a fleet of 12 m, zero-emission electric buses.

The city is also considering acquiring double-decker electric buses for longer distance trips, as they offer more seating.

The tender will specify that the electric buses must be able to travel at least 250 km in traffic before recharging.

Apart from the buses, the successful bidder must also provide the City of Cape Town with charging stations for the buses, as well as the required training for bus drivers and mechanical engineers to operate and maintain the vehicles.

The city is also mulling the use of solar-powered charging stations.

The MyCiti service started operation in May 2010, using a fleet of diesel-powered buses.

Around 38.5-million passenger journeys have been recorded on the MyCiTi service to date, with more than 1.5-million recorded in November alone.

“Cities across the world will soon reach a point where alternative fuel for public transport is no longer a choice, but a prerequisite,” explains De Lille.

“The operational cost of electric buses is significantly lower – not only in terms of fuel but also in relation to maintenance, as there are fewer parts to service,” she adds.

“Electric buses are easier to drive, the motors generate less heat than traditional diesel engines, there is much less noise, and it is a smoother drive for passengers and bus drivers alike.”

De Lille says the green transport project should earn the City of Cape Town carbon credits, which it can then sell to developed countries that are signatories to the Kyoto Protocol.

“This will generate much-needed revenue for the city and result in public transport benefits for residents, making this investment even more worth our while.”