Written By Gerald Gekara | |
“BasiGo,” one of Kenya’s first totally electric bus operators, has announced its scheduled launch in Nairobi.
Its buses will be among a number of companies selected to provide services on the new Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, which will be linked to the Nairobi Commuter Rail (NCR) system.
Over the next five years, the e-mobility business, which debuted in November last year, wants to introduce over 1,000 electric buses with capacities of 25 and 36 seats to Kenya for purchase by bus operators.
The buses are coming from BYD Auto, the world’s largest maker of electric buses, and while the pilot buses were imported completely assembled, the ultimate goal is for BasiGo buses to be assembled locally.
“For our trial program in Nairobi, we’ve worked with two separate public service vehicle companies,” explains Jit Bhattacharya, CEO and co-founder of BasiGo.
BasiGo has raised approximately $1 million in pre-seed capital, which it will use to demonstrate the viability of the electric bus business.
BasiGo isn’t the first electric vehicle company to enter the market.
BasiGo is not the first EV provider in the market.
Opibus, a Swedish-Kenyan EV manufacturer has premiered its first electric bus.
EkoRent Africa, a Finnish-Kenyan company that operates a fully electric taxi-hailing service, Ecotrify, an e-mobility infrastructure supplier and installer.
Kiri EV is also another start up that produces electric bikes.
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