Page 8 - AfrElec Week 45 2021

AfrElec ELECTRIC VEHICLES AfrElec

BasiGo starts selling

electric buses in Kenya

after pre-seed funding

KENYA ELECTRIC automobile startup BasiGo has A real-time project by IQAir, Swiss-based
started operations to deliver clean energy air quality technology firm, shows vehicles and
options to Kenya’s public transport industry, motorcycles are the main contributors to air pol-
which is currently dominated by fossil-fuel lution in Nairobi, pushing the city’s particulate
buses, after its $1mn pre-seed funding round. matter above the WHO limit.
BasiGo announced in Nairobi that it will WHO estimates 18,000 people die because of
introduce to the market 25- and 36-seater buses air pollution in Kenya. Researchers say a transi-
able to cover about 250 kilometres daily before tion to electric vehicles could help alleviate air
going to designated points to recharge electricity. pollution across Africa.
The firm plans to sell electric buses that are The Sub Sahara Africa Sustainability report
locally assembled using completely knocked says the switch to electric power offers coun-
down (CKD) kits imported from Build Your tries in the continent range of gains, including
Dreams (BYD) Auto Co. Ltd of China. The com- affordable transport and a reduction in emis-
pany will later venture to other countries in the sions as fossil-fuel vehicles contribute 12% of
East Africa region after establishing itself in the total emissions.
Kenyan market. While opportunities for electric mobility
Nairobi based bus operators will be involved remain huge, a majority of African countries
in pilot testing of electric buses before the end of lack necessary infrastructure to support adop-
2021. BasiGo is backed by a number of investors tion. A lack of recharging infrastructure, low
including Climate Capital, a Silicon Valley ven- grid power connectivity and expensive e-vehi-
ture capital firm, and Third Derivative, an accel- cles remain hindrances to adoption of electric
erator focused on climate-technology. transportation, according to a United National
BasiGo chief executive officer Jit Bhattacha- Environment Programme (UNEP) report.
rya said diesel-propelled units were viable means “Kenya is unique in that we have surplus of
for public transport in Kenya and bus operators renewable energy which can be taken advantage
can now access electric automobiles that reduce of by the public transport sector to make it more
exposure to rising fossil fuels cost. sustainable going forward,” BasiGo chief opera-
“Cost of electric technology has come down tions officer Alex Mwaura.
over the last 10 years and electric buses can offer He said Nairobi’s transport sector is evolving
significant savings compared to fossil fuel units. rapidly and BasiGO looks forward to partner-
Our goal is to help bus owners realise these sav- ing with the Kenyan government as well as other
ings and in the process help Kenya become a relevant agencies to grow the infrastructure for
global leader in sustainable public transport,” he electrified public transit.
said. Kenya’s first fully electric taxi company,
BasiGo plans to introduce a financing model NopeaRide, and electric vehicle maker Opibus,
that will allow its customers to purchase elec- are working to bridge infrastructure gap by set-
tric buses at the price of their diesel equivalents, ting charging points in various locations. Opi-
while offsetting the balance through usage-based bus was the first firm to convert diesel and petrol
subscription fees. vehicles to electric. Conversions are popular
Diesel propelled buses and mini-buses with tour firms in Kenya.
remain main modes of transport in Nairobi, as NopeaRide recently received funding from
in other African cities. According to the World EEP Africa, a financing facility for early-stage
Health Organisation (WHO), diesel engines are clean energy in Southern and East Africa, to
major sources of pollution of the environment. build more solar charging hubs in Nairobi, ena-
BasiGo’s initiative of electric buses in Kenya bling it to increase its service radius.
comes on the back of other attempts to introduce Other emerging firms in Kenya include elec-
clean energy in public transport. Taxi firms like tric motorcycle manufacturer Kiri Electric and
Uber and Bolt have introduced electric vehicle Drive Electric, which leases electric vehicles and
options as they move slowly away from auto- provides charging station installation and e-mo-
mobiles using fossil fuels that are linked to air bility consultancy.™
pollution.

P8 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 45 11•November•2021