Golden Arrow Bus Services in Cape Town is poised to significantly advance its renewable energy initiatives. The company has ordered 120 electric buses from the Chinese manufacturer BYD. This move marks a major step towards Golden Arrow’s goal of fleet electrification. The new buses are expected to arrive in Cape Town by December and be fully operational by the end of 2025.
Golden Arrow’s commitment to this project has been evident over the past four years, during which it has conducted extensive testing. These buses, known as BYD B12, are designed to match the specifications of the majority of Golden Arrow’s current fleet. They are 12.5 meters long and can seat 65 passengers. Equipped with lithium-ion phosphate batteries, they incorporate BYD’s six-in-one controller, integrating six components into one compact module.
According to BYD, these electric buses can run for up to 24 hours on a single charge, with an off-peak charging time of two to four hours. This efficiency makes them ideal for Golden Arrow’s operational needs. Francois Meyer, Chief Executive Officer of Golden Arrow and Frontier Transport Holdings, expressed his excitement about this development. He stated, “This bulk order confirms our commitment to renewable energy and will also provide us with the larger scale operational data to pave the way towards full fleet electrification.”
Reaching this point has required intensive preparation by Golden Arrow’s team. Company Engineer Gideon Neethling and his team have worked diligently to ensure that the infrastructure and workforce are ready to support large-scale fleet electrification. Neethling mentioned, “We are intensively preparing our workforce and infrastructure to operate a system with complex requirements, and this will involve many exciting future partnerships.”
Golden Arrow’s journey toward renewable energy began in 2017 with the pilot installation of two solar plants, each with a capacity of 25kWp. By 2020, the company had increased its solar capacity to 2,000kWp, achieving carbon-neutral electricity status for two of its facilities. That same year, Golden Arrow partnered with BYD and uYilo, a co-funding organization, to test two fully electric buses for 12 months. In 2021, these buses were officially introduced into service, marking a first for South Africa.
In 2022, Golden Arrow purchased a third BYD bus, and by 2023, a fourth test bus had been introduced. Approximately 200,000 kilometers of road testing were completed during this period. In 2024, the company made a significant leap by ordering 120 BYD electric buses for delivery between the fourth quarter of 2024 and the fourth quarter of 2025.
As of July 2021, two electric buses had been integrated into Golden Arrow’s daily operations, transporting passengers between Retreat and Cape Town. These tests included simulating peak passenger capacities and navigating Cape Town’s steepest inclines, ensuring the buses could handle the city’s unique transportation challenges.
Golden Arrow operates a fleet of 1,100 buses, transporting roughly 220,000 commuters daily across 1,300 routes. The company is also exploring solar carports and ground-mounted solar PV installations to fill the renewable energy gap required for its future operations. It is estimated that Golden Arrow will need a peak installed generation capacity of 80MW to 100MW of renewable energy to charge a fully electric fleet of 1,100 vehicles.
Steve Chang, General Manager of BYD South Africa, expressed his pride in introducing BYD electric buses to the country. “As a South African, it is a great honor to introduce BYD electric buses and its advanced technologies to South Africa,” Chang said. BYD’s commercial vehicles are already in use on six continents, including Africa. They operate in countries like Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, Rwanda, Madagascar, Mauritius, Senegal, Tunisia, Zimbabwe, and the Ivory Coast. Globally, BYD has delivered over 80,000 electric buses to cities such as Amsterdam, London, Tokyo, and Sao Paulo.
Founded in February 1995, BYD is listed on both the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and the Shenzhen Stock Exchange. The company has built a reputation for producing reliable and innovative electric vehicles, making it a key player in the global push towards sustainable transportation.
The electrification of public transportation presents significant opportunities for investment in South Africa’s EV market. GreenCape, a South African non-profit organization, identified the electrification of public transportation as one of the four key market opportunities for EV investment. GreenCape noted, “There is a business case for the electrification of public transportation, including both bus and minibus taxi services, in the medium term. EVs can assist public transport operators to save on operational costs, primarily fuel and maintenance costs, which would improve profitability.”
Golden Arrow’s initiative aligns with broader goals to promote sustainable urban mobility and alternative energy vehicles. By investing in electric buses, the company is not only reducing its carbon footprint but also setting a precedent for other public transport operators in the region.
