BasiGo, a Kenyan early-stage electric mobility startup, has shared plans to enter the Rwandan market in an expansion bid. This follows the launch of BasiGo Rwanda Ltd, a new company tasked with helping the public transport system go electric.
Aside from reducing carbon footprint, these buses may be the solution to Rwanda’s public transport crisis. Rising fuel costs have forced many buses to be pulled off the roads, thus making public transport elusive to many.
The startup said the first batch of electric buses will be available in the country by October this year. By 2024, it hopes to have 200 buses running. The initial fleet will undergo pilot testing with select transport operators in Kigali.
BasiGo also entered into a partnership with AC Mobility, a company offering smart transport solutions. Being a major player in the country’s public transport sector, any collaboration with the company is likely to yield positive returns. BasiGo noted that the partnership will enable it to fast-track Rwanda’s transition to electric mobility.
To make the buses affordable to potential partners, BasiGo confirmed plans to offer a Pay-As-You-Drive financing scheme. To this end, both companies and some major public bus operators signed letters of intent for the pilot phase in October.
Commenting on the potential expansion to another East African market, BasiGo CEO and Co-Founder, Jit Bhattacharya said that Rwanda was one of the countries with a conducive environment for electric mobility. He said:
“BasiGo is proud to be partnering with AC Mobility, a technology leader in Rwanda’s transport sector, to help accelerate the transition to electrified public transport.”
Regarding the financing model, Bhattacharya said the Pay-As-You-Drive method would make electric mobility easier to adopt due to its affordability. Besides, the scheme worked in Kenya, its home country. It currently operates a fleet of 19 electric buses in Kenya. Similar to Rwanda, it partnered with public bus operators. Aside from the buses, BasiGo also offers charging equipment and maintenance services to sustain the nascent segment.
On behalf of AC Mobility, CEO Jones Kizihira expressed the company’s excitement to work with BasiGo to electrify the country’s public transport. Given Rwanda’s recent growth, he noted that it became necessary for the transport system to be reformed for better efficiency.
“The electric buses will help ease the cost burden of public bus transporters and advance Rwanda’s transition to clean mobility. We look forward to leveraging BasiGo’s experience and network to build a strong electric bus business in Rwanda,” he further stated.
Read also: E-mobility startup, BasiGo debuts in Nairobi after $1 million pre-seed funding
Rwanda’s government supports the initiative
As countries around the world leverage electric mobility to reduce their carbon footprint, more African nations are encouraged to tap into the idea. With electric buses comes a reduced dependence on petrol. This will cause petrol prices to reduce, enabling bus operators to serve customers at reasonable prices. It also means they save money on maintenance costs.
Clare Akamazi, CEO of the Rwanda Development Board welcomed BasiGo to the country, stating that this deal will “accelerate decarbonization of the sector in Rwanda while also alleviating the current public transport shortage.” She also affirmed the RDB’s duty to help make the country profitable for electric mobility solutions.
Technext Newsletter
Get the best of Africa’s daily tech to your inbox – first thing every morning.
Join the community now!
