Cape Town Successfully Tests Electric Vehicles for Municipal Fleet

In an initiative geared toward sustainable transportation and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, the City of Cape Town has successfully piloted a project involving electric vehicles (EVs) for its Traffic Services fleet. The project was diligently funded by the City's Fleet Management Department with GreenCape developing a solid business case.

According to Alderman Theresa Uys, the Mayco member for corporate services, the pilot project aimed at creating a strong local business case for the electrification of municipal vehicle fleets. As she points out: "Municipal fleet managers now have a benchmark case study when considering procuring EVs for their fleet. The primary incentive is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance the quality of air in our cities, and reduce operational costs.”

The Senior Analyst for sustainable mobility and energy storage at GreenCape, Prian Reddy, highlighted that the City's three-year EV pilot project brought to light the legitimacy of the business case for electrification. He added that "Battery electric vehicle technology coupled with renewable energy for charging could be instrumental in achieving the City's ambition of zero emissions by 2050."

A significant revelation during the case study was that the electric patrol vehicles proved useful in lowering fuel costs and were comfortably operable in the City's Central Business District (CBD).