Tag: BasiGo

BasiGo adds 28 electric buses to Rwanda operations

BasiGo, a leading electric bus solutions provider, announced an expansion of operations with the delivery of 28 new electric buses to Rwanda.

This move is part of a broader plan to deploy 100 electric buses nationwide by the end of 2025. The first batch of buses is expected to arrive in Kigali next month to enhance city and inter-city public transportation services.

Read also: Tesla’s market value drops below $1 trillion – What’s behind the decline?

BasiGo’s expanding operations and infrastructure

BasiGo’s expansion in Rwanda involves not only the delivery of new buses but also the enhancement of its charging infrastructure. The company is upgrading its Rwandex charging and service depot, featuring a 1 MW power capacity capable of reliably charging 25 electric buses overnight. Additionally, more charging stations will be deployed nationwide to support inter-city operations.

Jit Bhattacharya, CEO and Co-Founder of BasiGo expressed enthusiasm about the expansion, stating, “BasiGo is proud to be delivering the largest shipment of electric buses to date into Rwanda. Rwanda’s commitment to sustainable transport has created an ideal environment for private sector investment and innovation into E-mobility. With this first major shipment of electric buses, BasiGo is proud to help Rwanda take a major step towards the goal of universal, electrified public transport for the country”.

BasiGo’s Pay-As-You-Drive model provides a comprehensive solution that includes charging, service and maintenance, insurance for electric buses, and a 90 percent uptime guarantee. This model facilitates a seamless transition for bus operators integrating electric buses into their fleets. The company has already secured over 360 reservations from Rwandan bus operators seeking to either replace their ageing diesel buses or expand their fleet.

Read also: iX Africa to expand cloud services in East Africa with 4.5MW hyperscale data centre in Nairobi

BasiGo electrifies, cuts emissions, and creates jobs

Implementing 100 electric buses by BasiGo is expected to reduce carbon emissions by an estimated 3,000 tons annually while creating hundreds of jobs for locals. This initiative aligns with Rwanda’s Vision 2050 sustainability goals, positioning BasiGo as a pivotal player in the country’s transportation transformation.

Doreen Orishaba, Managing Director of BasiGo Rwanda, noted, “Over the last 15 months, we have proven the reliability of our electric buses and the value of our model to the Bus Operators. We are confident in our capacity to meet the Rwandan bus market needs”.

BasiGo’s commitment to electrifying public transport in East Africa is further supported by its recent funding round, which aims to deliver 1,000 electric buses in the region over the next three years. In Rwanda, BasiGo has partnered with AC Mobility to facilitate the integration of electric buses into the existing transportation network, promoting sustainable and inclusive public transport.

March 8, 2025
BasiGo Secures $225,000 Grant to Revolutionise Electric Mobility in Rwanda

A significant advancement for the African EV sector has occurred as BasiGo, a leading electric bus company, received a grant of $225,000 to grow its innovative operations in Rwanda. This investment represents a significant achievement for the company and the nation’s dedication to sustainable transportation options.

Forward-looking electric vehicle firm BasiGo is committed to revolutionising public transit throughout Africa. BasiGo has been leading the way in introducing electric buses into metropolitan transit systems, with an eye towards accessible, reasonably priced, environmentally friendly transportation. The company’s initiatives complement Rwanda’s aim for a better future and world sustainability targets.

Read also: China-based EV producer Neta joins Kenyan market

The Impact of BasiGo’s Electric Buses in Rwanda

With its progressive policies and gorgeous scenery, Rwanda has advanced in using green technologies. BasiGo’s launch of electric buses in the nation is poised to transform the public transportation infrastructure. By minimising carbon emissions and running expenses, these electric buses offer a better atmosphere that eventually helps the ecology and the economy.

The $225,000 grant BasiGo obtained is evidence of the company’s creative thinking and the increasing worldwide interest in African sustainable transportation options. This significant grant will greatly aid BasiGo’s attempts to install electric buses across Rwanda. The funds will assist various vital projects:

It involves setting up the necessary charging facilities to enable electric buses to function. This involves placing charging stations at crucial spots to guarantee efficient and continuous service.

We are adding more electric buses to BasiGo’s fleet to accommodate the rising need for environmentally friendly public transportation. This expansion aims to improve bus services by increasing coverage and frequency, offering commuters more convenient options.

We are implementing training programs for local technicians and drivers to ensure proper maintenance and operation of electric buses. This initiative will create job opportunities and build local expertise in electric vehicle technology.

They are organising awareness campaigns to inform the public about the advantages of electric buses and inspire their acceptance. These initiatives will underline the environmental benefits, financial savings, and higher public transit quality.

Read also: Norway Invests $307M via Norfund to Boost Kenya’s E-Mobility Sector

What the future holds for BasiGo

With the award, BasiGo can revolutionise Rwanda’s transport scene. The company’s ecological and efficient mobility solutions will encourage other African nations. Rwanda is pioneering a better future for urban transport on the continent by adopting electric buses.

BasiGo’s success in obtaining a $225,000 grant is a positive advancement for the future of electric transportation in Rwanda. As the company keeps innovating and growing, improving the environment and the quality of life for Rwandan citizens will become more noticeable. This funding aids BasiGo’s goals and strengthens Rwanda’s dedication to sustainable development and climate initiatives.

July 15, 2024
Kenyan BasiGo secures $3M Investment fund from CFAO Group

In a significant stride towards sustainable transportation, BasiGo, a Kenyan e-mobility startup, has garnered a substantial USD 3 million equity investment.

This financial backing comes from the CFAO Group, a prominent entity in the African mobility and infrastructure sector, and is fully supported by Toyota Tsusho Corporation of Japan.

The investment is a collaborative effort between CFAO Kenya and Mobility54, CFAO’s corporate venture capital wing. This infusion of funds is earmarked for the expansion of BasiGo’s operations, specifically the manufacturing and distribution of electric buses within Kenya and Rwanda.

Read also: Kenyan electric bus manufacturer BasiGo expands to Rwanda

BasiGo’s Innovative Approach

BasiGo is not just another electric vehicle manufacturer; it stands out with its unique business model. The company offers a comprehensive package that includes state-of-the-art electric buses, along with essential charging and maintenance services. This is made financially accessible through an innovative pay-as-you-go financing model, which allows bus operators to pay for the battery and charging services separately from the bus purchase, easing the financial burden and fostering adoption.

At the core of BasiGo’s strategy is the pay-as-you-drive financing model. This approach is revolutionary in enabling bus operators to acquire electric buses without the deterrent of high initial costs. It’s a game-changer for the public transport sector, making the switch to electric vehicles a viable and attractive option.

Impact on Local and Regional Transport

The implications of this investment and BasiGo’s business model are far-reaching. By facilitating the transition to electric buses, BasiGo is setting the stage for a cleaner, more sustainable future in public transportation. The environmental benefits are clear, with a significant reduction in carbon emissions and a move from reliance on fossil fuels.

With this new round of funding, BasiGo is poised to accelerate its mission of electrifying public transport in Africa. The company’s vision extends beyond immediate financial gains, aiming to establish a green legacy that will resonate with future generations and contribute to the global fight against climate change.

BasiGo’s recent financial boost is more than just a monetary win; it’s a testament to the growing recognition of the importance of sustainable business practices. As BasiGo continues to expand its reach and impact, it serves as a beacon of innovation and environmental stewardship in Africa and beyond.

How BasiGo addressing charging infrastructure challenges

BasiGo is tackling the charging infrastructure challenges by implementing a strategic approach that includes:

Charging Depots Along Bus Routes: BasiGo has established charging depots conveniently located along existing bus routes. It ensures that electric buses can be recharged every night, making the process seamless for operators.

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Rapid Charging Capability: The electric buses provided by BasiGo are designed to recharge in less than 4 hours, which allows for efficient turnaround times and ensures that the buses can be ready for operation each day.

Multiple Charging Sites: BasiGo has expanded its charging infrastructure to include multiple charging sites. For instance, they have operational charging stations in Embakasi, Kikuyu, and BuruBuru, which can charge over 20 electric buses.

Pay-As-You-Drive Financing Model: This model includes the cost of charging within the financing arrangement, which helps bus operators manage the operational costs associated with electric buses.

By addressing these key areas, BasiGo is creating a supportive ecosystem for adopting electric buses, ensuring that the necessary infrastructure is in place to support their operation and maintenance.

April 8, 2024
BasiGo launches Kenya’s first public EV charging station

Kenyan e-mobility start-up BasiGo, which is being directed by entrepreneur Jit Bhattacharya and is in the process of transforming Africa’s transport sector, has revealed an ambition to revolutionize the landscape of transport in Kenya.

Reports indicate that the e-mobility start-up intends to build sixteen electric vehicle (EV) charging stations across the city of Nairobi by the end of this year. By doing so, the company intends to strengthen its commitment to the developing e-mobility revolution in the country.

Read also: BasiGo, AVA partner to develop electric buses in Kenya

Remarks from the Chief Executive Officer of BasiGo

Jit Bhattacharya, the Chief Executive Officer of BasiGo, made the news when the company was celebrating the opening of its very first public charging station in the Buruburu estate of Nairobi. In a statement that conveyed his excitement, Bhattacharya said:

“We are looking to establish 16 such stations across Nairobi by December this year before rolling out the service to other parts of the country.”

Bhattacharya emphasized the potential for expansion, adding: “This is a charging station with the capability of charging six electric buses simultaneously, but it also has the scope and the space for us to eventually expand to the charging of 30 electric buses at this first area.”

Achievements of BasiGo

The cutting-edge charging station, which has a worth of Ksh4 million ($29,000), has the ability to power six buses at the same time.

The station was at first only accessible to the 17 buses that make up the BasiGo fleet; but, starting in December, it will be open to the general public.

BasiGo intends to incorporate the cost of charging into its pay-as-you-drive subscription plan in order to ensure that its customers have convenient access.

The cost of leasing batteries is covered by the daily price of Ksh20 ($0.144) that subscribers pay for each kilometre driven.

Already having made significant headway in Kenya’s e-mobility market, BasiGo is an impressive company. Since the company’s introduction to the market in March 2021, its fleet has travelled a total of 280,000 km, accommodated 360,000 people, and resulted in a reduction of 120 tonnes of carbon emissions.

BasiGo has an impressive track record of accomplishments, and the company is now setting its eyes on a landmark achievement: the deployment of 1,000 electric buses in Kenya by the year 2025. This will be a significant step towards BasiGo’s ultimate aim of achieving zero emissions.

The e-mobility firm, which has received money from investors amounting to a total of $10.9 million, is committed to increasing the production of electric public service cars on a larger scale.

In addition, BasiGo is proactively growing its network of charging infrastructure, with a particular emphasis on the city of Nairobi, which is home to the majority of its highly valued customers.

BasiGo to deliver locally made Electric Buses in Kenya

About BasiGo

BasiGo is revolutionising the bus industry in Africa by introducing a brand new type of vehicle. Electric buses from BasiGo have a longer range than diesel buses, which they also operate more reliably, and their running expenses are lower. The BasiGo electric buses are charged overnight using East Africa’s plentiful renewable energy source, which enables them to have a significant influence on reducing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

And with BasiGo’s one-of-a-kind Pay-As-You-propulsion financing solution, the K6 Electric bus is made accessible to all owners who are interested in making the switch to clean, electric propulsion at an affordable price. The year 2021 marks the beginning of operations for the business, which has its headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya.

The BasiGo K6 Electric bus, which has 25 seats, is currently available for preorder, and the company is accepting bookings for it. The K6 Electric Bus is now available for a purchase price of Ksh 5 Million in addition to an inexpensive subscription fee of Ksh 20 per kilometre when it is paired with the Pay-As-You-Drive battery subscription offered by BasiGo.

A BasiGo bus, one of two that were used in the road pilot that began in the Kenyan capital in 2022. The business anticipates having one hundred of its electric buses operational by the time 2023 comes to a close. A “pay-as-you-drive” plan is being implemented by BasiGo, which means that the company will not be operating its own fleet of buses, but rather would be selling buses directly to private operators in Nairobi.

May 29, 2023
BasiGo, AVA partner to develop electric buses in Kenya

BasiGo, an e-mobility startup based in Kenya, and AVA, a multi-brand vehicle assembler, have just announced that they will be working together to develop cutting-edge electric buses for the Kenyan market.

Over the course of the next three years, the companies hope to produce more than a thousand electric buses.

As a result of this initiative, more than 300 new manufacturing jobs will be created, and another 300 jobs will be created in the infrastructure required to charge, maintain, and finance electric buses in order to keep them on the road.

Using the information obtained from those who operate Public Service Vehicles (PSVs), the partnership’s other objective is to eventually switch out the 25-seater buses that were employed in the pilot project for 33-seater buses.

Read also: BasiGo to deliver locally made Electric Buses in Kenya

Mobility54 Kenyan Start-up Funding

Just recently, the Kenyan startup secured $6.6 Million in a new funding round led By Mobility54 to begin the commercial delivery of locally manufactured electric buses and charging infrastructure through the company’s one-of-a-kind Pay-As-You-Drive financing model. Mobility54 is the company that led the funding round.

This relationship, according to Moses Nderitu, Chief Revenue Officer for BasiGo, is crucial for BasiGo to scale up in order to become the first company in the region to construct electric vehicles domestically. This will be yet another first for BasiGo, which was a pioneer in the usage of electric buses in Kenya and will achieve it as a result of this progress.

Additionally, Jit Bhattacharya, CEO of BasiGo, offered his thoughts on the relationship, stating that

The company BasiGo is dedicated to providing electric buses that are produced entirely within the borders of Kenya. We are overjoyed to announce that we will be forming a partnership with AVA, the most successful commercial vehicle manufacturer in the country. AVA has a wealth of experience in domestic assembly and has done so for a number of years. We are certain that the formation of this alliance would catapult Kenya to the forefront of the global market for the production of cutting-edge electric vehicles.

Since its launch in March 2022, BasiGo’s electric buses have reportedly travelled more than 141,000 kilometers and carried more than 185,000 passengers as a part of fleet operations with two bus operators in Nairobi: East Shuttle and Citi Hoppa. This is all thanks to the company’s partnership with these two companies.

This came about after the company had received $6.6 million (Sh804.5 million) a few months earlier, with Toyota serving as the round’s primary investor. On the other hand, it is believed that the investment will expedite the efforts that BasiGo is making to construct electric buses for public transit networks in Kenya and throughout Africa.

About BasiGo

E-mobility start-up BasiGo aims to usher in a new era of innovation within the public transportation industry by making available to the owners of public transportation buses an electric option that is more affordable than diesel.

Our team is strategically made up of seasoned entrepreneurs who have spent over a decade working and innovating in the fields of electric vehicle technology, mobility in Africa, and financing for renewable energy. Our headquarters are in Nairobi, Kenya, and we have a team that spans the continent. We are a group of people committed to bringing about a mobility revolution in Africa that is both inclusive and sustainable.

Egypt to produce 100 locally manufactured electric buses

A little On AVA

The Simba Corporation owns AVA, which is the market leader in multi-brand vehicle assembly in the East African region. AVA also assembles luxury vehicles.

At this time, we assemble 43 percent of all automobiles that are built in Kenya. We manufacture a diverse selection of vehicle models, including everything from pickup trucks and other commercial vehicles to golf carts and tuk-tuks.

February 7, 2023
BasiGo to deliver locally made Electric Buses in Kenya

BasiGo, a Kenyan e-mobility company, recently obtained $6.6 million in new funding to expedite the commercial delivery of locally constructed electric buses in the nation. This is just the most recent of several announcements that indicate that changes are about to occur in African mobility.

BasiGo plans to deploy 15 more electric buses in January 2023, which will be used by the current bus companies in Nairobi, adding to the 25 electric buses that are now in operation as part of its pilot program. With this most recent round, BaisGo’s total fundraising as of 2022 will be $10.9 million.

The statement came just a few weeks after Nigerian e-mobility startup Metro Africa said that its crowdfunding plans aim to raise $100 million, enabling the availability of electric vehicle parts in 10 African countries by the end of 2023.

In an ambitious plan to lead Kenya’s transition from gasoline-powered automobiles to electric cars, KenGen, a major hydroelectric power producer in that country, recently showcased its first four electric vehicles.

Moreso, BasiGo, which has already unveiled charging infrastructure, will start supplying locally made e-buses as part of its distinctive Pay-As-You-Drive financing scheme. According to CEO Jit Bhattacharya, the market is ready for public e-mobility.

“Over 90% of Kenya’s electricity already comes from renewables. Yet Kenya’s transport sector relies entirely on imported petroleum fuels. By electrifying Kenya’s public transport, we can make an immediate dent in climate emissions, clean up the air in our cities, and give bus owners relief from the rising cost of diesel,” the CEO of Kenya’s e-mobility leader said.

Read also: Nigeria Will Begin Manufacturing Electric Cars In 2023

Africa’s increase in green innovation

Until recently, most emerging nations could not adopt electric buses due to their high upfront costs. However, investors can purchase buses at prices equal to those of normal, diesel-powered buses because of the innovative Pay-As-You-Drive strategy.

After introducing its first four electric vehicles in Nairobi, energy company KenGen is now promoting using them.

Two SUVs and two double-cab pickup trucks will be utilized for data collection and policy creation by the firm, which also announced plans to place roughly 30 EV charging stations across the nation in 2023.

According to Abraham Serem, KenGen’s interim managing director and chief executive officer, the four EV units will be used as pilot units to supply the company with data that will be used to undertake complete research into the viability of EVs.

Metro Africa, a Nigerian EV startup, is also looking for financial partners to assist it to raise $100 million in funding to manufacture electronic vehicles and increase the supply of EV parts, including batteries, to ten African countries.

Metro Africa’s head of international expansion, David Hoyme, told Bloomberg that the business expects to raise funds by the end of 2023, allowing it to conduct operations in Cameroon, Uganda, and Egypt.

“In the next one year, we plan to roll out 30 EV charging stations in major cities across the country. The four acquired EVs we are launching today will give the company first-hand experience and data on electric vehicles,” he explained.

Amazon plans €1 billion Investments on electric vehicle fleet

Africa’s increase in green innovation

The abundance of non-electric vehicles in Africa presents a lucrative potential to promote e-mobility in African cities, according to Tom Courtright, the Association for Electric Mobility and Development in Africa’s (AEMDA) research director located in Nairobi.

Because more investors are showing interest, he thinks startups will do better in the future. Furthermore, the majority of African governments have accommodating policies that will promote the industry.

“We just need to make sure that consumer education is undertaken alongside educating local investors so that they begin investing in the sector,” he explained.

Insisting that 2023 projections from significant players are an indicator of the “open arms with which e-mobility has been embraced,” Courtright insists that the future of e-mobility is “prime.”

He asserts that “the moment we have… a variety of investors pumping resources into infrastructure such as solar panels and batteries” is when e-mobility will be fully realized.

Mordor Intelligence projects that by 2027, the African electric car market would have grown to $21.39 billion from its estimated value of $11.94 billion in 2021.

December 10, 2022