THE City of Johannesburg’s Member of Mayoral Committee on Transport, Kenny Kunene in collaboration with U40 Cities and several leading Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) will launch a pioneering Electric Bus Technology trial programme at Metrobus Milpark Depot, on Thursday, 3 September.
This Trial Programme of the electric buses will be conducted across selected Metrobus and Rea Vaya BRT Phase 1C (a) routes.
This initiative, led by (MMC) for Transport, Kunene, forms part of the City’s commitment to modernizing public transport, improving operational efficiency, and advancing Johannesburg’s Green Transport and Climate Action agenda.
The trial will evaluate electric bus technologies and configurations under real-world Johannesburg operating conditions. This includes:
- Battery Electric bus technology
- Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS): Advanced telematics, real-time passenger information, driver monitoring and AI-based safety systems
- Operational Efficiency: Energy consumption, Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF), COF, fleet availability, and life-cycle costing, energy storage and battery maintenance
- Passenger Experience: Accessibility, comfort, safety and reduced emissions and noise pollution
The trial buses will be deployed on Metrobus’s high-demand corridors, including routes in Soweto, Sandton, CBD and Roodepoort, operating alongside the existing fleet to ensure no disruption to commuters as well as along the Rea Vaya Phase 1C (a) -a new route that offers a safe, affordable and reliable transport to the residents of Berea, Yeoville, Orange Groove, Cheldondale, Norwood, Balfour Park, Bramley, Wynberg, Alexandra, Marlboro, Athol, Sandton, Sandown, Longmeadow and Greenstone.
All buses will be fully integrated into Metrobus’s Fleet Management System (FMS), Control Centre and AVL system for independent performance verification as well as integration into the full operations of Rea Vaya Phase 1C (a).
The trial will run for a period of 30 to 60 days between September and October 2026, with performance data independently verified by the City’s Performance Management Unit (PMU) against approved Technical Information Definitions (TIDs).
The completion of the successful trial period will be followed by the transportation of commuters along Metrobus and Rea Vaya BRT route system.
“This pilot is a strategic intervention to ensure that future fleet recapitalization decisions are evidence-based, not speculative. Johannesburg cannot continue to buy buses the old way. We must test, measure, and prove what works best for our city’s route systems, our passengers, sustainability, climate and environmentally friendly mobility”, says Kenny Kunene.
The collaboration and business relations with world-class OEMs positions the City of Johannesburg as a leader in smart, sustainable urban mobility in Africa. The residents of the City deserve a reliable, safe, affordable and green public transport system.
This trial brings us closer to that reality while supporting local job creation and skills transfer.
“This initiative is a critical step in implementing the City’s Strategic Integrated Transport plan, ensuring that every rand invested in public transport delivers measurable value for our commuters.
By partnering Metrobus as our municipal operator and with global OEMs, we are creating a living laboratory on our own streets. We are testing cleaner propulsion, smarter ITS Systems and safer operations in real conditions”, said Lutando Maboza, Executive Director, Transport Department.
This is how we de-risk major capital decisions, reduce emissions, improve reliability, and build a public transport system that restores dignity and confidence for our residents.
“Metrobus is proud to be the implementation platform for this City-led initiative.
As the City’s municipal bus entity, our mandate requires Operational Excellence and Fleet Reliability. This trial will provide critical data on our migration to Zero Emission buses, a lower total cost of ownership propelled by electricity.
Electric buses is the future of the City’s eco-mobility”, says the Managing Director of Metrobus.
Image provided (Kenny Kunene, MMC for Transport in CoJ.)
