Africa embraces e-buses for public transport

From the newsletter

Egypt is set to acquire 180 electric buses for public transportation, funded by a World Bank loan. This initiative is part of a larger effort to promote electric vehicles in the country's public transportation. The project also includes developing Egyptian standards for electric vehicle charging stations compatible with EVs used in the country.

• Egyptian cities of Alexandria, Cairo, and Sharm el-Sheikh were the first adopters of electric buses for public transport. To date, over 130 electric e-buses operate in these cities.

• Last week, the Egyptian government launched the El Nasr e-bus assembly unit, which aims to assemble 300 e-buses annually for the Egyptian market, with plans to expand production to 1,500 buses within three years.

More details

• Africa heavily relies on fuel imports for its industries, with the transport sector being the largest consumer. Simultaneously, African governments are burdened with debt and lack the foreign currency reserves to facilitate these transactions.

• Public transport is widespread in Africa, with a large portion of the population relying on it for their daily commutes. However, private car ownership is also increasing as a wealthier segment of the population emerges.

• To address these challenges, many governments are implementing electric bus initiatives, aiming to transition to sustainable transportation and reduce expenditure on fuel imports. Studies have shown that the total cost of ownership of an electric bus is significantly lower than that of a fuel-powered bus.

• Senegal is at the forefront of this movement, having invested heavily in its Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system and deployed 121 electric buses to decarbonise its transport sector.

• Uganda is taking a different approach by pioneering local electric bus manufacturing through the Kiira Motors Corporation. Their Kayoola EVs are designed for urban transport, and the country has ambitions to become a regional leader in electric vehicle technology. It is rolling out electric buses in the cities of Kampala and Jinja.

• Kenya also plans to incorporate electric buses into its Nairobi BRT system to improve public transport and reduce emissions. Though the construction of the dedicated BRT lane is currently on hold, it remains a key part of the long-term vision.

• Ethiopia, an early adopter of electric buses, launched a pilot project with 30 electric buses in Addis Ababa to assess their suitability for the city. The government's ambitious development plan aims to import 4,800 electric buses within 10 years.

• South Africa is also prioritising electric buses to decongest its roads and reduce pollution. Golden Arrow, a major bus operator in Cape Town, plans to procure 150 electric buses as the shift towards electric vehicles gains momentum.

• Similarly, Lagos, Nigeria's largest city, has ambitious plans to introduce 100 electric buses to its public transport network.

• Ghana is also making strides, aiming to deploy 100 electric buses by the end of 2024 to improve urban air quality and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

Our take

• Electrifying public transport is arguably the most effective way to decarbonise the transport sector. Corporations can lead the way by electrifying their employee transportation systems. Bus operators, often organised in cooperatives, have an advantage in raising capital to acquire electric bus fleets compared to individual car owners.

• Electric buses can replace fuel-intensive buses and minibuses, reducing fuel imports and saving governments money. This shift also presents an opportunity for utility providers to generate revenue through grid charging.

• However, switching to electric buses alone is not enough. Public transport systems need to be well- organised and efficient to attract commuters, including those who currently rely on private cars. Without improvements in reliability, convenience, and safety, the impact of electric buses will be limited.