BasiGo, a Kenyan vehicle startup, has introduced a passenger electric bus as interest in environmentally friendly transport continues to grow.
The KSh 5 million bus, also a 25-seater, is designed by the world’s largest manufacturer of electric buses, BYD Automotive.
The bus can travel for 250 kilometers before requiring recharging, with a recharging period of less than four hours.
“Today marks an important step towards a cleaner and brighter future for public transit in Kenya,” BasiGo chief CEO and founder Jit Bhattacharya said.
Bhattacharya said buyers will be subjected to a KSh 20 per kilometre subscription fee, an amount that will be used to cover the cost of leasing the battery, nightly charging at a BasiGo depot, as well as service and maintenance for the buses.
The startup is partnering with two public service vehicle (PSV) operators, Citi Hoppa and East Shuttle.
Citi Hoppa will deploy the buses between the city centre and Jomo Kenyatta International Airport; East Shuttle plans to use the buses on the Eastlands routes.
“With the possibility of less maintenance and avoiding the cost of diesel fuel, these buses address many of the hassles our owners face and should be better for our business overall,” said EastShuttle Director of Finance John Moses Kamau.
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The introduction of electric buses across the world has elicited mixed reactions, with some critics saying most of the buses are unreliable.
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