Kenya Super Electric Bus

Which mobility companies are launching a small bus in Kenya?

Roam is also developing a smaller bus called the Roam Move, designed for the Kenyan market and to operate on smaller routes. It is still in the prototype phase (pictured here in February 2022), and the company aims to have a model in use in October 2023. BasiGo is another mobility startup operating in Nairobi.

Could electric buses solve Nairobi's mass transport problem?

Electric buses could help solve the problem. Today Bhattacharya is the CEO and co-founder of BasiGo, a mobility startup racing to electrify the city’s buses. The company is not alone. Swedish-Kenyan electric vehicle manufacturer Roam also has its eyes set on Nairobi’s mass transport sector.

Which mobility startups are operating in Nairobi?

BasiGo is another mobility startup operating in Nairobi. It is importing bus kits from Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD and assembling them locally. BasiGo started with a two-bus pilot in March 2022. Now it is about to bring a further 15 buses to market, and aims to have 100 buses on the road by the end of 2023.

How much does a Kenyan bus cost?

Wakaba claims the bus will cost 20 Kenyan shillings ($0.16) to run per kilometer, compared to 50 to 60 shillings ($0.40 to $0.48) for a diesel equivalent. Through a financing model – the details of which are yet to be finalized – he says drivers could recoup the cost of the vehicle in four to five years.

Are electric buses a solution to public transport problems?

“In the city, we have 40% of trips on public transport.” “The challenge that we’re facing now is that these matatus are stuck in traffic,” he adds. “People face delays, the service is not always reliable. Those are issues that we need to correct.” Electric buses could help solve the problem.

What is a roam rapid electric bus?

A Roam Rapid electric bus in Nairobi, Kenya. At least two mobility startups are looking to make inroads in the city's transport market with modern, sustainable alternatives to Nairobi's ubiquitous matatus (privately owned and operated minibuses). The Roam Rapid can seat up to 90 people and has a range of over 360 kilometers (224 miles).