Nairobi-based electric bus startup BasiGo is beginning its operations after raising $1 million in pre-seed funding.
The company plans to bring clean bus transit to its native Kenya, where the market is currently dominated by fossil fuel-powered buses.
Using parts from Chinese EV manufacturer BYD Automotive, BasiGo will assembly its 25- and 36-seat buses locally. It expects the vehicles to have a range of around 250 km.
“For years, diesel-powered buses have been the only viable solution for bus operators in Kenya. We are excited to provide public transport operators with a new option: state-of-the-art electric buses that are more affordable, and reliable, and reduce bus operator exposure to the rising costs of diesel fuel,” says BasiGo CEO and co-founder Jit Bhattacharya.
The company will introduce a financing model to allow customers to purchase EV buses at the price of their diesel equivalents, whilst offsetting the balance through usage-based subscription fees.
“The cost of electric bus technology has come down dramatically over the last 10 years, to the point where electric buses can offer significant savings compared to fossil-fuel buses. Our goal is to help bus owners in Kenya realize these savings, and in the process, help Kenya become a global leader in sustainable public transport,” continues Bhattacharya.
BasiGo says that it will begin a pilot program later this year in Kenya, although it plans to expand to other East African markets once the company has become established in its homeland.
The company’s COO, Alex Mwura, says the company is well-placed to take advantage of Kenya’s existing investment into renewable energy.
“Kenya is unique in that we have a surplus of renewable energy which can be taken advantage of by the public transport sector to make it more sustainable going forward,” says Mwura.
“Nairobi’s transportation sector is evolving rapidly, and we look forward to partnering with the government and relevant agencies to grow the infrastructure for electrified public transit.”
Keyword: Nairobi-Based Electric Bus Startup BasiGo Raises $1 Million