BasiGo, a pioneer in electric bus technology, has expanded its presence in Africa with the launch of BasiGo Rwanda Ltd., a new subsidiary that aims to electrify the public transport system in Rwanda.
BasiGo has partnered with AC Mobility, Rwanda’s leading 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.
BasiGo and AC Mobility have signed letters of intent for the pilot with Kigali Bus Service, Royal Express, and Volcano Express, three of Kigali’s major bus operators.
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.
BasiGo Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder, Jit Bhattacharya, said that Rwanda has led the way in creating an enabling ecosystem for E-mobility and that 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.
Clare Akamanzi, Chief Executive Officer, Rwanda Development Board (RDB), welcomed the BasiGo – AC Mobility partnership and said that 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 that he was excited to partner with BasiGo to drive Rwanda’s public bus electrification and that the electric buses will help ease the cost burden of public bus transporters and advance Rwanda’s transition to clean mobility.
BasiGo was founded in 2021 and 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.