Electric bus pioneer, BasiGo, has made a second entry into
the African market with the launch of BasiGo Rwanda Ltd., a new entity focused
on electrifying the public transport system in Rwanda.
BasiGo
has partnered with AC Mobility, Rwanda’s provider of automated fare collection
systems for public transport. The partnership will deliver electric buses to
Kigali transport operators by October of this year through BasiGo’s innovative
Pay-As-You-Drive financing model.
Commenting
on the partnership, BasiGo Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder, Jit
Bhattacharya said:
“Rwanda has led the way in creating
an enabling ecosystem for E-mobility. 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. Electric buses will be more
cost-effective for operators while also dramatically reducing air pollution and
CO2 emissions. Through our Pay-As-You-Drive model, we are excited to bring a complete
E-Bus solution to make electric buses accessible and convenient for all bus
operators in Rwanda.”
On
her part, Clare Akamanzi, Chief Executive Officer, Rwanda Development Board
(RDB) said:
“In line with RDB’s mandate to
fast-track private-sector economic development in Rwanda, we welcome the BasiGo
– AC Mobility partnership to bring electric bus technology to Kigali bus
operators as a cost-effective and sustainable alternative to diesel buses. This
partnership of public transport technology providers in the region will
accelerate decarbonization of the sector in Rwanda while also alleviating the
current public transport shortage. RDB is intentional in its support towards
this investment and growing a thriving market for electric mobility solutions
in Rwanda.”
Jones
Kizihira, Chief Executive Officer, AC Mobility Rwanda said:
“We are excited to partner with
BasiGo to drive Rwanda’s public bus electrification. The country has recorded
rapid transformation, creating a need for a more robust and cost effective
public transport system. 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.”
The
Government of Rwanda recently announced an initiative to rapidly scale the size
of Kigali’s public transport fleet while also aiming to convert 20% of the
public bus fleet to electric by 2030.
Founded
in 2021, BasiGo has led the introduction of electric buses in Nairobi’s public
transport fleet. BasiGo has sold 19 Electric Buses to public transport
operators in Nairobi and has secured reservations for over 100 additional
buses. BasiGo electric buses have driven over 460,000 kilometers and carried
over 580,000 passengers. BasiGo has also deployed Kenya’s first DC fast
charging stations for electric buses.
BasiGo
offers electric buses to private bus operators through a mileage-based leasing
model called Pay-As-You-Drive, which makes electric buses affordable for
private bus operators to purchase and use.