BasiGo

Last updated
BasiGo
Founded2021 in Nairobi, Kenya
FounderJit Bhattacharya [1]
Headquarters,
Kenya
Key people
Jonathan Green (co-founder) [1]
Website basi-go.com

BasiGo is a Kenyan electric bus company that leases electric buses to local bus owners. It is headquartered in Nairobi. [2] BasiGo initially imported fully or partially assembled electric buses from BYD Auto; however, since 2023, it has partnered with Associated Vehicle Assemblers to fully assemble imported parts in Kenya. [3] It was founded in 2021 by Jonathan Green and Jit Bhattacharya. As of 2023, BasiGo has almost 20 electric buses, including BYD K6 model electric buses, which have 25 seats each, and E9 Kubwa buses, which have 36 seats each. [4]

Contents

History

Following restrictions on diesel for matatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic and environmental changes afterwards, [5] Jit Bhattacharya decided to create the first electric buses in Nairobi, becoming BasiGo's CEO and co-founder. [6]

Roll out of the first buses (2021)

On 2 November 2021, BasiGo announced the start of its operations in Nairobi, after receiving $1,000,000 in pre-seed funding. [7] Its first two buses began operations on 22 March 2022. They were BYD K6 models operating under Citi Hoppa and East Shuttle matatu companies, with one bus passing through Buruburu and Dandora and the other one moving through Allsops, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and the Nairobi CBD. [8] Within 6 months, the buses had covered 150,000 km and carried over 155,000 passengers, according to Jit Bhattacharya. [1]

After getting its first two vehicles, BasiGo shipped 15 more BYD K6 electric buses, which were cleared from the port of Mombasa on 30 November 2022. [9] Unlike the first two buses, the new buses were shipped while partially assembled; their creation was finished in Kenya by Associated Vehicle Assemblers in January 2023. On 14 February 2023, the new buses were flagged off and began to operate within Nairobi under different local shuttles. [10]

Expansion to Rwanda (2023)

On 26 July 2023, BasiGo signed letters of intent with Rwandan bus operators Royal Express, Volcano Express and Kigali Bus Service to provide them with electric buses via a Pay-As-You-Drive model. [11] They also announced their partnership with AC Mobility, an automated fare collection service provider. [12]

In November 2023, USAID granted BasiGo $1,500,000 to conduct research with Rwandan bus operators and riders to study the model's profitability in the Rwandan market. They were also tasked to establish an urban pollution monitoring system to track how BasiGo lowered pollution in Rwanda. As of December 2023, the first two buses designated for Kigali arrived at Mombasa port. [13]

Leasing

After the shipping and assembly of the first buses, BasiGo began leasing them to local matatu companies via a Pay-as-you-drive model. This model operated via two options. The first option allowed companies to buy a bus without batteries for $35,600; BasiGo would then lease the batteries to them, with local matatu operators paying BasiGo $0.16 per kilometer driven using a battery. The other option was to lease the entire bus by paying an up-front deposit and paying the rest while operating the bus. [14]

As of 2023, BasiGo has leased electric buses to 5 local Kenyan bus shuttles.

Local ShuttleNo. of busesModelRoutes
Citi Hoppa [15] 1BYD K6CBD, Allsops, JKIA
East Shuttle [15] 1BYD K6Buruburu, Dandora
OMA Services [16] 2BYD K6CBD, Jogoo Road, Buruburu, Civil servants
Embassava [17] 4BYD K6CBD, Jacaranda Estate, Nyayo Esate
Super Metro [18] 1BYD K6CBD, Kikuyu, Kitengela
Metro Trans [19] 5BYD K6Utawala, Community-Upperhill, Kiambu

Public bus charging station establishment

In May 2023, BasiGo unveiled the first public electric charging station for electric buses in Buruburu. This was their third charging station; however, their other charging stations were not for public use. The first two were established in Embakasi and Kikuyu. The third charging station is able to charge up to 6 buses simultaneously. [20] BasiGo's charging stations rely on renewable energy, since they receive energy from the national energy grid, which receives 90% of its energy from renewable sources during the day and 100% from them at night. [21]

Awards and achievements

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transport in Kenya</span>

Transport in Kenya refers to the transportation structure in Kenya. The country has an extensive network of paved and unpaved roads.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nairobi</span> Capital and largest city of Kenya

Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The name is derived from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nairobi, which translates to 'place of cool waters', a reference to the Nairobi River which flows through the city. The city proper had a population of 4,397,073 in the 2019 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fuel cell vehicle</span> Vehicle that uses a fuel cell to power its electric motor

A fuel cell vehicle (FCV) or fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) is an electric vehicle that uses a fuel cell, sometimes in combination with a small battery or supercapacitor, to power its onboard electric motor. Fuel cells in vehicles generate electricity generally using oxygen from the air and compressed hydrogen. Most fuel cell vehicles are classified as zero-emissions vehicles. As compared with internal combustion vehicles, hydrogen vehicles centralize pollutants at the site of the hydrogen production, where hydrogen is typically derived from reformed natural gas. Transporting and storing hydrogen may also create pollutants. Fuel cells have been used in various kinds of vehicles including forklifts, especially in indoor applications where their clean emissions are important to air quality, and in space applications. Fuel cells are being developed and tested in trucks, buses, boats, ships, motorcycles and bicycles, among other kinds of vehicles.

BYD Auto Co., Ltd. is the main automotive subsidiary and brand of BYD Company, a publicly listed Chinese multinational manufacturing company. It manufactures passenger battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), collectively known as new energy vehicles (NEVs) in China. It also produces electric buses and trucks. The company sells its vehicles under the main BYD brand and high-end vehicles under its Denza, Yangwang and Fangchengbao brands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electric bus</span> Bus powered by electricity

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matatu</span> Public transportation minibuses in Kenya

In Kenya, matatu or matatus are privately owned minibuses used as share taxis. Often decorated, many matatu feature portraits of famous people or slogans and sayings. Likewise, the music they play is also aimed at quickly attracting riders. Over 70% of commuter trips are taken using matatu in cities like Nairobi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battery electric bus</span> Electric bus which obtains energy from on-board batteries

A battery electric bus is an electric bus that is driven by an electric motor and obtains energy from on-board batteries. Many trolleybuses use batteries as an auxiliary or emergency power source.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electric car</span> Car propelled by an electric motor using energy stored in batteries

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">BYD e6</span> Battery electric compact MPV

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plug-in electric vehicle</span> Type of vehicle

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Presidio Go Shuttle</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">BYD K series</span> Motor vehicle

The BYD K series bus are a line of battery electric buses manufactured by the Chinese automaker BYD, powered with its self-developed lithium iron phosphate battery, featuring a typical operating range of 250 kilometres (160 mi) per charge under urban road conditions. It is available in several different nominal lengths, from 7.0 to 13.7 m and also as a 18 m (60 ft) (articulated) bus. The rear axle is powered by two electric traction motors; the battery capacity and motor power of each model varies depending on the nominal length and passenger capacity.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">BYD B series</span> Electric bus manufactured by BYD

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