Chinese renewable energy firm , BYD , has won a contract to supply 11 electric battery - powered buses to Cape Town , South Africa , which is to be the first city in Africa to use electric buses for public transport . Cape Town aims to reduce carbon emissions through a range of policies that affect households, businesses, the city’s transport system and electricity generation. The city will initially deploy the 12 metre - long buses as an express service between the central business district and the Metro South East , with a view to reassigning them to Cape Town ’s Bus Rapid Transit ( bus ) system once infrastructure support is in place . The buses use BYD ’s iron - phosphate battery that can sustain over 80 % capacity , even after 4,000 cycles .
Chinese renewable energy firm , BYD , has won a contract to supply 11 electric battery - powered buses to Cape Town , South Africa , which is to be the first city in Africa to use electric buses for public transport . The city will initially deploy the 12 metre - long buses as an express service between the central business district and the Metro South East , with a view to reassigning them to Cape Town ’s Bus Rapid Transit ( bus ) system once infrastructure support is in place . The buses use BYD ’s iron - phosphate battery that can sustain over 80 % capacity , even after 4,000 cycles .