Launch of the first active electric buses gets mixed reaction

[Currantly]

Cape Town - Golden Arrow Bus Services’ first-of-its-kind electric buses received a lukewarm reception from some, despite the fanfare with which they were introduced.

The launch at the Gabs depot in Montana, next to Cape Town International Airport, was after testing of two electric buses in Cape Town, and these would now be incorporated into Golden Arrow’s day-to-day operations, carrying passengers between Retreat and Cape Town, starting this month.

Gabs engineer Gideon Neethling said the testing phase of the electric bus has been rigorous.

Linky

 

[chrisc]

Surely a bus is a bus? The passengers don't care what propels it, as long as they get to their destination on time

 

[Nerfherder]

Surely a bus is a bus? The passengers don't care what propels it, as long as they get to their destination on time

South Africans complain about everthing.

Golden Arrow getting new busses is possibly the best thing I have heard all year.

 

[WollieVerstege]

Would love to take an electric bus. No diesel fumes and loud noises.

 

[Scooby_Doo]

Wait till protesters realise how much fun setting one of those buses on fire will be.

 

[Nithan15]

Would love to take an electric bus. No diesel fumes and loud noises.

But but the sound of a straight 6 turbo diesel

 

[c3n0byt3]

Surely a bus is a bus? The passengers don't care what propels it, as long as they get to their destination on time

That is probably correct. The "lukewarm" from the title comes from IOL/Argus spin.
The reporters approached politicians from ANC and COSATU, who had some things to say about where the funds should've went, but that the buses themselves were a good thing.

 

[rph72]

They have about a 1000 busses in their fleet. Wonder how many additional electric busses are on order seeing the testing phase is over.

 

[Gordon_R]

Just saw an electric bus on the Main Rd in Newlands. At least there are no steep hills on this route...

 

[Draconia2]

well that's pretty darn cool.

 

[Speedster]

well that's pretty darn cool.

Almost as cool as your avatar

 

[Agent_Smith]

But but the sound of a straight 6 turbo diesel

Careful. You're going to get @Rouxenator all wet!

 

[Nithan15]

Careful. You're going to get @Rouxenator all wet!

What about the sound of the turbo spooling up just before a gear change

 

[Nerfherder]

Just saw an electric bus on the Main Rd in Newlands. At least there are no steep hills on this route...

I think I saw one in Mowbray - it was a new Golden Arrow which is something I have never seen so possible it was the electric one.

 

[Rouxenator]

Just saw an electric bus on the Main Rd in Newlands. At least there are no steep hills on this route...

Was it one of those Chinese ones? I am working on recording some of the EV data they have on CAN. They are being used in the UK too.
Electric.Yutong.Bus.E12 and the main focus is getting the following info on a per trip basis :
State of charge
Energy generated
Energy consumed
Energy consumed by auxiliaries
Battery charge status
State of health
Battery discharge
Maximum battery cell temperature

 

[Neuk_]

What makes the busses first-of-its-kind?

 

[skeptic_SA]

How much copper cable in one of those beauties?

 

[saturnz]

Would love to take an electric bus. No diesel fumes and loud noises.

the MyCiti buses are quiet, too quiet actually, you can barely hear them coming down the road

 

[The_Librarian]

Will the electricity grid be able to cope with the charging of the buses?

 

[Milano]

What makes the busses first-of-its-kind?

First active electric bus in SA according to article.

Much poorer countries in Eastern Europe were already introducing them back in 2018

First electric bus serves passengers in Tbilisi

Georgia’s capital Tbilisi is continuing to modernise its public bus fleet by introducing the first electric bus which will serve passengers in testing regime for a while.

agenda.ge