Ben Pullen, Founder of Smarter Mobility Africa, sits down with Thomas Maltese, Head of the Zero Emission Bus Rapid-deployment Accelerator (ZEBRA) Partnership at C40 Cities, to talk electric buses, charging infrastructure, and city readiness at the UITP Summit in Hamburg.
Momentum around electric buses is building – and not just in Europe or Asia. From Latin America to Africa, public transport authorities are shifting gears, guided by the urgent need to reduce emissions and the growing case for electric buses as a smarter, more sustainable urban mobility solution.
But what does it take to scale electric bus fleets in African cities? What’s worked elsewhere? And how can cities avoid the most common early mistakes? In this conversation, Thomas Maltese shares hard-won lessons from years of deployment experience, with a growing focus on South Africa and beyond.
From Fleets to Systems: Why Electric Buses Are More Than Just Vehicles
“One of the biggest misconceptions,” says Thomas, “is that electric bus rollouts are seen as vehicle projects. In reality, they are energy infrastructure projects.”
That shift in thinking is critical. Cities that focus solely on buses – without first addressing the required energy and grid upgrades – risk major setbacks. In some cases, electric buses have arrived at depots only to sit idle due to bottlenecks in charging infrastructure. These delays are costly, inefficient, and carry real reputational risks.
Thomas underscores the importance of planning infrastructure before procurement. “Charging infrastructure must come first – ideally before the vehicle selection process even begins.”
Getting Smart About Software and Total Cost of Ownership
Beyond chargers and cables, software plays a pivotal role. Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS), route optimisation tools, and energy modelling software all contribute to more efficient fleet planning and lower operating costs.
“Good software can reduce operational inefficiencies by 20–30%. It directly improves the total cost of ownership, which already favours electric buses over diesel or gas when done properly,” Thomas explains.
That’s not just a theory – cities that adopt advanced depot planning are already pushing the limits of what’s possible. Some are achieving a 4:1 bus-to-charger ratio, drastically lowering upfront infrastructure needs and improving fleet efficiency.
Battery longevity, another early concern, is also looking more positive. “Some cities assumed battery replacement after 7 years, but we’re now seeing lifespans stretching to 9 or even 10 years. That changes the financial model entirely.”
Growing Focus on Africa: From São Paulo to Cape Town
Thomas leads the ZEBRA Partnership, a programme co-led by C40 Cities and the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT). Initially launched in Latin America, the programme has since expanded into Africa and India – with South Africa becoming a key area of focus.
In Latin America, early success came from cities with strong political commitments, such as São Paulo, which implemented climate legislation mandating fleet decarbonisation. But in those early years, local manufacturing was limited, investor confidence was low, and the region lacked a clear playbook for financing electric buses.
ZEBRA helped bridge that gap – stimulating local supply chains, unlocking finance, and disseminating lessons beyond the core cities involved.
That work is now translating into meaningful support for African cities. “We’re very excited to be working closely with Cape Town, Johannesburg, and the national government,” Thomas says. “And from there, we’re looking forward to expanding across the region.”
The Case for Going Electric: Health, Equity, and Quality of Life
While reducing carbon emissions remains a primary motivator, the benefits of electric buses reach far beyond climate targets.
ZEBRA has begun quantifying co-benefits, including reductions in air pollution, avoided healthcare costs, and improved public health outcomes. “Especially in cities where buses run 12 to 18 hours a day, the impact on air quality is huge,” Thomas notes.
Electric buses also bring unexpected social value. “These buses are often used by the most vulnerable groups. So making the service cleaner and more reliable is a major win for social inclusion.”
Several cities are now recruiting women as drivers for electric bus fleets, with many entering formal employment for the first time. “We’ve actually seen higher efficiency in women-led operations,” Thomas adds. “And drivers often become some of the strongest advocates for the technology – especially once they experience the lower noise, less vibration, and overall comfort.”
Passengers are noticing, too. Air conditioning, USB ports, and Wi-Fi are small features that make a big difference. “In some cities, people are willing to wait a little longer just to board an electric bus.”
What’s Holding Cities Back?
Despite strong momentum, several barriers still slow adoption in African cities.
First is infrastructure readiness. Grid upgrades can take years to complete – far longer than the vehicle procurement timeline. “You might order buses with a 12-month delivery window, but if your grid work takes three years, you have a serious problem,” Thomas warns.
At the same time, cities must overhaul other key systems: digital fare collection, scheduling software, and back-office integration. “Electrification and system modernisation have to happen in parallel. We don’t have the luxury of waiting.”
Financing is another common challenge. But Thomas is confident that with well-structured projects and longer planning horizons, electric buses win on value. “Over 15 years, the total cost of ownership is lower – and we’ve got the data to prove it.”
The Final Word: No Turning Back
For cities that get it right, the transition to electric buses is not a risk – it’s a springboard.
“We don’t hear any operators who want to go back,” says Thomas. “If anything, they double down. Once the benefits become clear, it’s full speed ahead.”
As more African cities plan their zero-emission transition, the learnings from global pioneers – and the support of programmes like ZEBRA – will help them leapfrog many of the earlier missteps.
With the right planning, partnerships, and policy backing, Africa’s electric bus future isn’t just possible – it’s already underway.
🎙️ Hear more in our upcoming webinar
If you’d like to dive deeper into the future of electric public transport in Africa – including charging infrastructure, informal systems, and innovative finance – don’t miss our next SMA webinar:
🗓️ The Future of Public Transport Electrification in Africa
📅 Wednesday, 23 July 2025
🕒 10:00 WAT / 11:00 SAST / 12:00 EAT
🔗 Register now
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