Golden Arrow has gone solar – and is now eyeing 60 locally built electric buses
Cape Town’s largest and oldest bus company, Golden Arrow, has been investing in rooftop solar power since 2017.It’s also been testing electric buses which have a range of 300km before needing to be recharged.So, the company is importing a 65-seater bus with the correct specifications for further testing.
Cape Town’s largest and oldest bus company has spent the last six years pivoting to renewable energy. Its central engineering complex in Epping, Multimech, was the first to introduce solar power with the installation of rooftop panels. Solar PV installations have been expanded to include six Golden Arrow depots with a combined generating capacity of 1.7 MWp. These solar projects produced 1,980 MWh over the past year and, with more panels planned, GABS expects to increase energy production to 2,680 MWh by June 2023.The 160-year-old company recently introduced two electric busesThese electric buses have a range of 300km before needing to be recharged.
"The 65-seater is scheduled to arrive in Durban harbour early in August 2022 and testing expected to start in September 2022."