Electric Bus Company, BasiGo, has announced routes for their newly-launched electric buses within the Nairobi Metropolis.
During the rollout of the services at the Kenyatta International Conference Center (KICC) on Wednesday, March 9, it was revealed that the company had partnered with two SACCO buses mainly Citi Hoppa and East shuttle to ply various routes in the capital.
The Citi Hoppa buses will carry passengers from the Central Business District (CBD) to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) covering parts of Mombasa road.
On the other hand, the East shuttle will cover Jogoo road as they ferry passengers travelling to Eastlands.
"The buses shall now go into operation as standard PSVs with Citi Hoppa and East Shuttle. Citi Hoppa will be deploying the BasiGo electric bus on routes between the city center and JKIA.
"East Shuttle plans to deploy their electric bus on the Eastlands side of Nairobi. The electric bus pilot program will give passengers along these routes the chance to ride in the electric bus just like any other matatu," read the statement in part.
Ministry of Petroleum Permanent Secretary Joseph Njoroge disclosed that the electric bus services would be extended to other parts of the capital revealing that the government had settled on electric buses for some of the road projects they were undertaking within the county.
“We are currently working towards launching the BRT system in Nairobi to ease traffic and our goal is to have electric buses used. These buses from BasiGo are proof that we can make that a reality and work towards building a sustainable transport sector,” he stated.
On his part, City Hoppa Operations Director Githaiga Weru stated that the buses were revolutionary promising Kenyans that they would offer quality experience to Kenyans.
"We are excited to pilot test this new electric bus technology and see how it performs as part of our regular bus operations. We believe passengers will particularly enjoy the quiet and comfort of commuting on the electric bus, and we know these buses can have a positive impact on our environment," he stated.
The buses can cover 250 kilometers when charged and will take less than 4 hours to be fully charged.
During the launch, it was also revealed that the company would produce the buses for interested Kenyans and PSV bus SACCOs at a fee of Ksh5 million among other charges.
"Through BasiGo’s unique Pay-As-You-Drive battery financing program, owners can purchase the K6 for KSh 5 Million plus a daily subscription fee equal to KSh 20 per kilometer which includes the cost of leasing the battery, nightly charging at a BasiGo depot, and service and maintenance for the electric bus," read the statement in part.
