BasiGo, a Kenyan-based electric bus supplier, is expanding its operations to Rwanda with the launch of BasiGo Rwanda. The company has partnered with AC Mobility, Rwanda’s provider of automated fare collection systems for public transport, to deliver 200 electric buses to bus operators in Rwanda by the end of 2024. The first electric buses for the capital, Kigali, are expected to be delivered in October 2023.
BasiGo has received a grant of USD 1.5 million from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to support its electric bus pilot program in Kigali. The pilot program will see BasiGo’s electric buses deployed across various routes in Kigali in partnership with prominent bus operators, including Kigali Bus Service, Royal Express, and Volcano. The goal of the program is to test the cost-effectiveness and operational viability of electric public transport in the city.
All BasiGo electric buses will be offered via a “pay-as-you-drive” or kilometer-based financing model. This model provides most of the required financing to transport companies to purchase an electric bus. Operators can then subscribe to BasiGo with a per-kilometer fee, which includes leasing the battery, charging at BasiGo charge stations, and service and maintenance provided by BasiGo.
BasiGo’s electric buses are BYD’s K6 electric bus, which has 24 seats (plus a driver) and can travel up to 250 kilometers on one battery charge. The buses are assembled in Kenya.
BasiGo’s expansion into Rwanda is a significant step forward in the company’s mission to revolutionize public transportation in East Africa. The company’s innovative pay-as-you-drive model and commitment to sustainability are making electric buses a viable option for cities in the region.
