BasiGo Broadens Horizons, Initiating Kenya's First Inter-City Trial for Electric Minibuses outside Nairobi
In an exciting development for Kenya's transportation sector, BasiGo, a leading electric mobility provider, is expanding its operations to include intercity service providers. This move marks the launch of Kenya's first pilot program for electric matatus on intercity routes.
The innovative Pay-As-You-Drive lease model, introduced by BasiGo, offers a more affordable way for operators to transition to electric vehicles (EVs). Under this model, a full electric bus lease, including the battery, costs around 1 million Kenya Shillings as a security deposit, with an additional 70 Kenya Shillings per kilometre. Operators can also lease the battery separately, with the battery lease fee working out to be around 44 Kenya Shillings per kilometre.
Four SACCOs - 4NTE SACCO, Manchester Travellers Coach SACCO, 4NTE, and Manchester - have partnered with BasiGo to pilot electric matatus on various routes. 4NTE SACCO will operate on the Nyahururu-Nyeri and Nyahururu-Nakuru routes, while Manchester SACCO will focus on the Thika-Nairobi corridor.
Each electric matatu offered through BasiGo's Pay-As-You-Drive lease model will be a 16- to 19-seater minibus, designed to meet the needs of the operators. These electric vehicles offer a range of up to 300 kilometres on a single charge and a 1.5-hour recharge, ensuring seamless inter-city operations.
Moses Nderitu, the Managing Director of Kenya at BasiGo, expressed his excitement about extending electric mobility beyond Nairobi and electrifying matatus. He emphasised that these partnerships with visionary SACCOs like 4NTE and Manchester demonstrate the practicality of electric mobility for intercity and intercounty transit.
BasiGo has installed charging stations in Nyahururu and Thika to support these inter-city operations. The company also plans to locally assemble electric vans in Kenya, creating job opportunities and fostering skills development in the country's clean energy sector.
The proposed fiscal measures in a recent white paper aim to reduce the total cost of ownership for EVs, catalyse local value addition, and attract foreign direct investment. These measures include tax exemptions on Value Added Tax (VAT), import duty, and excise duty for EVs, batteries, and EV charging stations.
The government also appears aligned with broader objectives tied to Kenya Vision 2030 and Sustainable Development Goals, which would support fiscal and regulatory policies conducive to electric vehicle adoption.
This new pilot program, in partnership with 4NTE SACCO and Manchester Travellers Coach SACCO, aims to extend clean, reliable public transport solutions beyond Nairobi and into regional routes. The partnership between BasiGo and SACCOs positions Kenya as a blueprint for clean, inclusive transport solutions.
- BasiGo's innovative Pay-As-You-Drive lease model offers a more affordable transition to electric vehicles (EVs) for operators, with a full electric bus lease costing approximately 1 million Kenya Shillings as a security deposit and an additional 70 Kenya Shillings per kilometre.
- Four SACCOs - 4NTE SACCO, Manchester Travellers Coach SACCO, 4NTE, and Manchester - have partnered with BasiGo to pilot electric matatus on various intercity routes.
- Each electric matatu offered through BasiGo's Pay-As-You-Drive lease model will be a 16- to 19-seater minibus, designed to meet the needs of operators and offering a range of up to 300 kilometres on a single charge.
- Moses Nderitu, the Managing Director of Kenya at BasiGo, has expressed his excitement about extending electric mobility beyond Nairobi and electrifying matatus, highlighting the practicality of electric mobility for intercity and intercounty transit.
- BasiGo has installed charging stations in Nyahururu and Thika to support these inter-city operations and also plans to locally assemble electric vans in Kenya, creating job opportunities and fostering skills development.
- The proposed fiscal measures in a recent white paper aim to reduce the total cost of ownership for EVs, catalyse local value addition, and attract foreign direct investment, including tax exemptions on Value Added Tax (VAT), import duty, and excise duty for EVs, batteries, and EV charging stations.
- The government's support for the new pilot program aligns with broader objectives tied to Kenya Vision 2030 and Sustainable Development Goals, which would support fiscal and regulatory policies conducive to electric vehicle adoption, positioning Kenya as a blueprint for clean, inclusive transport solutions.
