Electric Minibus Taxis in Cape Town: Energy Demand, Emissions, and Costs

Minibus taxis are Cape Town’s ubiquitous public transport mode, carrying about 69% of public transport users. As electric mobility accelerates, the implications of electrifying this paratransit fleet must be quantified. We present a multi-perspective assessment of energy, environmental and operator impacts of electric minibus taxis (eMBTs). Using a high-resolution tracking dataset representative of MBT operations in Cape Town, South Africa, we estimate daily charging energy demand, compare greenhouse gas and particulate matter emissions for electric and internal combustion operation under South Africa’s coal-dominated grid, and evaluate the operator’s total cost of ownership. Key results show that eMBTs require approximately 50.8 kWh of energy per day, based on the fleet’s median daily distance. Under current grid conditions, diesel minibus taxis emit 14.37% less CO2e than eMBTs, but eMBTs drastically reduce noise pollution and particulate matter emissions when compared to diesel vehicles. Despite higher purchase prices, eMBTs can reduce operating costs and become financially attractive under favourable electricity prices and financing conditions. The study provides evidence to guide charging infrastructure planning, grid policy and incentive design for paratransit electrification in developing regions.