· EV start-ups are mushrooming in Kenya.
- BasiGo, Kiri, and Opibus are some of the start-ups that have set their bases in Kenya. Many more are in the pipeline.
· EV vehicles will be a big relief to many cities in Kenya that face heavy air pollution with poisonous vehicular fumes.
EV start-ups are mushrooming in Kenya. BasiGo, Kiri, and Opibus are some of the start-ups that have set up their bases in Kenya. Many more are in the pipeline. EV vehicles will be a big relief to many cities in Kenya that face heavy air pollution with poisonous vehicular fumes.
BasiGo is pioneering a new generation of eco-friendly buses that are set to cut down carbon emissions in cities like Nairobi, Nakuru, Kisumu and Mombasa that face dangerous fumes. Diesel-run buses the only viable solution for bus operators in Kenya have been the main culprit for the pollution. Jit Bhattacharya, BasiGo CEO and co-founder said that the company will provide public transporters, state-of-the-art electric buses that are more affordable, and reliable, and reduce operating costs for bus operators due to the rising costs of diesel. Bhattacharya has rich experience in the EV ecosystem having worked as CEO of Mission Motors in Silicon Valley as well as a senior manager for Project Titan, an electric car project by Apple Inc.
At the beginning of November, BasiGo raised Sh111.3 million in pre-seed funding to electrify Kenya’s public transport system. The funding will be used for the building of 25 and 36-seater buses with capacities to cover about 250 kilometres, enough to cover daily trips. A pilot programme for financing the purchase of buses is also being evolved.It is expected to be rolled out by year-end, facilitating customers to purchase buses on a usage-based subscription. Mr Bhattacharya was confident that the process will help transform Kenya as a global leader in sustainable public transport.
Opibus, another start up also successfully raised Sh834.37 million ($7.5 million) in equity and grant funding.Started in 2017, Opibus converts diesel and petrol vehicles and motorcycles engines into electric thus reducing carbon dioxide emissions. The company plans to scale up production of electric motorcycle and bus manufacturing from next year. Filip Gardler, Opibus co-founder and chief executive officer, remarked that his project has been supported by globally recognised investors providing a balance between deep-tech and emerging market expertise. In July, this year, the company introduced an electric mining vehicle, which can cut down mining operational costs by up to 60 percent.
Energy firms like Kenya Power and Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) are also gearing up to cater to the rapidly growing market by installing charging stations and developing appropriate infrastructure to support the use of electric vehicles across the value chain. ChargeNet Kenya, a subsidiary of Mayleen Corporation has already set up a number of charging stations in Nairobi.
