African cities are gaining momentum in sustainable transport, with notable achievements such as Senegal's recent launch of 150 electric buses serving passengers through bus-rapid transit (BRT) in Dakar and Ethiopia surpassing its 2030 electrification target with 229 e-buses in Addis Ababa.
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), in partnership with C40 Cities, WRI, GIZ’s TUMI E-Bus Mission, the Zero Emission Bus Rapid-deployment Accelerator (ZEBRA) Partnership and with support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) is organizing the Africa Electric Bus Workshop, which will bring together transport officials from 29 African cities and countries.
The Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre, first opened by Nelson Mandela in 1997, will host the event. It aims to accelerate the deployment of electric buses across the African continent, address critical challenges in sustainable urban mobility, and improve air quality.
The workshop will convene e-bus manufacturers, investors, and technical experts, emphasizing the creation of just and equitable transportation solutions for Africa's rapidly growing urban centers. By the workshop's conclusion, each participating government is expected to identify concrete actions toward e-bus electrification.
It will focus on critical aspects of e-bus deployment, including:
• Business models for financing zero-emission buses
• Available technology and charging infrastructure solutions
• Lessons learned from different cities
• Socio-economic benefits and just transition strategies
• Practical implementation challenges and solutions
