2024-01-28 23:08:05
Electric mobility is booming in Nairobi. From motorbike taxis to buses, more and more companies are entering the sector and taking on the Kenyan capital. Among them, BasiGo. The start-up put its first electric buses into circulation in 2022. Today, 19 are rolling on the streets of Nairobi.
From our correspondent in Nairobi,
It is without engine noise that the electric bus starts in downtown Nairobi. A little music to entertain the passengers. The respondents are unanimous. “ It’s the first time I’m taking an electric bus, I’m with my wife, testifies this user. So far so good, the ride is smooth, there is no noise. I think it’s good to have these buses, they don’t emit polluting emissions. »
« This is my third electric ride. I like these buses, they are comfortable and fast. But sometimes on certain journeys, it’s difficult to get them, they are not everywhere. I would love for them to come to my neighborhood for example! », Explains this other passenger.
Depending on their size, buses can travel between 250 and 300 kilometers per day on a full charge. There are four charging stations in Nairobi. The start-up highlights the carbon footprint. “ A bus running on diesel can release up to 50 tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere per year. By replacing it with an electric bus, we avoid these emissions, explains Samuel Kamunya, business development manager for BasiGo. And then, the bus has no engine and uses green energy which costs less. Not having an engine also has a double advantage, avoiding air pollution and reducing noise pollution. »
Spread the cost of buses
Electricity makes particular sense to Kenya where 87% of electricity comes from renewable sources. But the high cost of vehicles is often a barrier to purchasing. BasiGo has taken this into account. This is what Samuel Kamunya explains: “ We make the initial price of the bus similar to that of a bus that runs on oil. Then follows a subscription with “pay as you drive”. »
That is to say, for each kilometer traveled, the bus owner pays a certain amount. “ It is this amount that allows you not to ask for a higher price from the start, but to spread it over a long period. », he further specifies. This “ payment as you drive » guarantees access to unlimited bus recharges as well as its maintenance. “ Thanks to this system, we can offer our buses at affordable prices “, he insists.
BasiGo has just received a $5 million loan from British International Investment, a British government financing institution. This money should allow the start-up to put 100 buses into circulation in Kenya by the end of the year. They are all assembled locally. More than 400 people have already paid a deposit to be on the waiting list. BasiGo also intends to establish itself in other countries on the continent. In addition to Kenya, the start-up has also launched in Rwanda.
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