Residents of Senegal’s major city, Dakar, are expected to ride on Africa’s first all-electric Bus Rapid Transit buses by January 2024.
According to The Times, Dakar Mobilité, operating under a PPP agreement with the Senegalese government to manage the infrastructure component of the all-electric BRT network, received 121 large-capacity electric vehicles from Chinese manufacturer CRRC on November 28, 2023.
The all-electric Dakar BRT system is a crucial project in Senegal’s energy transformation program and is part of a larger plan to reorganize Dakar’s public transport network by 2025.
The Senegalese government’s conscious effort to reduce air emissions and the carbon footprint associated with transportation in Dakar is reflected in the 100% electric BRT system, covering 18.3 kilometers of Dakar.
CETUD’s website indicates that this network will help eliminate an estimated 59,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually.
The Dakar all-electric BRT system will cover 18.3 kilometers from the Petersen bus station on the Dakar Plateau (in the city center) to the prefecture of Guédiawaye in Dakar’s northern suburbs.
The BRT route will connect 23 stations from north to south, servicing 14 of the city’s most densely populated neighborhoods via four lines (one “omnibus” line and three express or semi-express lines).
Upon full operation by the summer of 2024, the BRT system is expected to transport 300,000 passengers daily between the suburbs and Dakar city center.
Furthermore, the Dakar all-electric BRT system is anticipated to reduce traffic congestion, improve air quality, enhance accessibility, and halve travel time across Dakar, reducing it from 90 to 45 minutes between different areas.
