BasiGo
 | This article, BasiGo, has recently been created via the Articles for creation process. Please check to see if the reviewer has accidentally left this template after accepting the draft and take appropriate action as necessary.
Reviewer tools: Inform author |
| This article, BasiGo, has recently been created via the Articles for creation process. Please check to see if the reviewer has accidentally left this template after accepting the draft and take appropriate action as necessary.
Reviewer tools: Inform author |
Comment: Please try to fix some of the grammar errors and please read WP:PEACOCK. Seawolf35 T--C 15:26, 14 December 2023 (UTC)
| Founder | Jit Bhattacharya[1] |
|---|---|
Key people | Jonathan Green (co-founder)[2] |
BasiGo is a kenyan electric bus company that leases electric buses to local bus owners and is headquartered in Nairobi.[3] Initially, BasiGo imported fully built or partially assembled electric buses from BYD Auto, however as from 2023 they partnered with Associated Vehicle Assemblers to fully assemble imported parts in Kenya. [4] It was founded in 2021 by Jonathan Green and Jit Bhattacharya. As of 2023 BasiGo has almost 20 electric buses including 25 seater BYD K6 model electric buses and 36 seater E9 Kubwa buses.[5]
History
Following the restrictions of diesel matatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic[6] CEO and co-founder Jit Bhattacharya saw the opportunity to set up the first electric buses in Nairobi after the environmental changes seen a few weeks after the pandemic.[7]
Roll out of the first buses (2021)
On 2 November, 2021, BasiGo announced the start of its operations in Nairobi after receiving $1 million in pre-seed funding.[8] The 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.[9] Within 6 months the buses had covered 150,000 km and carried over 155,000 passengers according to CEO Jit Bhattacharya.[10]
Expansion, addition of 15 new buses.
Following the success of the first two buses BasiGo shipped 15 more BYD K6 electric buses and were cleared from the port of Mombasa on 30 November 2022.[11] Unlike the first two buses, the new buses were shipped while partially assembled and were assembled in Kenya by Associated Vehicle Assemblers. This was completed in January 2023. On 14 February 2023 the new buses were flagged off and began to operate within Nairobi under different local shuttles.[12]
Pay-As-You-Drive leasing and integration with local matatu companies
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, one a purchasing option where the companies bought the bus without the battery for $35600 then BasiGo leased the batteries to them while also charging them for free. The local matatu operators would then pay BasiGo $0.16 per kilometer driven for the battery. The other was by leasing the entire bus by paying an up-front deposit and paying the rest while gradually operating the bus.[13]
As of 2023 BasiGo leased the electric buses to 5 local bus shuttles.
| Local Shuttle | No. of buses | Model | Routes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Citi Hoppa[14] | 1 | BYD K6 | CBD, Allsops, JKIA |
| East Shuttle[15] | 1 | BYD K6 | Buruburu, Dandora |
| OMA Services[16] | 2 | BYD K6 | CBD, Jogoo Road, Buruburu, Civil servants |
| Embassava[17] | 4 | BYD K6 | CBD, Jacaranda Estate, Nyayo Esate |
| Super Metro[18] | 1 | BYD K6 | CBD, Kikuyu, Kitengela |
| Metro Trans[19] | 5 | BYD K6 | Utawala, Community-Upperhill, Kiambu |
Expansion to Rwanda
On 26 July 2023 BasiGo announced that it had signed letters of intent with Rwandan bus operators Royal Express, Volcano express and Kigali Bus Service to provide them with electric buses via the Pay-As-You-Drive model.[20] They also announced their partnership with AC Mobility, an automated fare collection service provider.[21]
In November 2023 USAID granted BasiGo $1.5 Million for purposes of conducting research with Rwandan 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.[22]
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 it was their first charging station opened to the public. The first two were established in Embakasi and Kikuyu. The charging station was set up with a capacity of charging 6 buses simultaneously.[23] The charging stations relied on Renewable energy given they tapped to the national grid which received 90% of it's energy from renewable sources during the day and 100% during the night.[24]
Awards and Achievements
- Keeling Curve Prize (2022) - $25,000[25]
- Best mobility and logistics award at the Global Startup Awards Africa (2023).[26]
References
- ^ Collins, Tom (2022-12-11). "Starting an electric bus company in Kenya: An entrepreneur's story". How we made it in Africa. Retrieved 2023-12-07.
- ^ Collins, Tom (2022-12-11). "Starting an electric bus company in Kenya: An entrepreneur's story". How we made it in Africa. Retrieved 2023-12-07.
- ^ Abuya, Kenn (2023-06-20). "How electric bus companies in Nairobi are taking different approaches to public transit electrification". TechCabal. Retrieved 2023-12-06.
- ^ Kanali, Nixon (2023-01-24). "BasiGo and AVA to assemble 1,000 electric buses in Kenya". TechTrendsKE. Retrieved 2023-12-06.
- ^ Kuhudzai, Remeredzai Joseph (2023-08-14). "BasiGo Introduces The E9 Kubwa Electric Bus, Which Is Specifically Designed For The Kenyan Market". CleanTechnica. Retrieved 2023-12-06.
- ^ The Star Team. "Matatus weak link in anti-corona war". The Star. Retrieved 2023-12-06.
- ^ Page, Thomas (2023-02-10). "Electric buses are driving a silent revolution in Nairobi". CNN. Retrieved 2023-12-06.
- ^ Njanja, Annie (2021-11-02). "EV startup BasiGo debuts in Nairobi after $1 million pre-seed funding". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2023-12-06.
- ^ Odenyo, Akello. "A ride in Kenya's first electric matatu". The Star. Retrieved 2023-12-06.
- ^ Collins, Tom (2022-12-11). "Starting an electric bus company in Kenya: An entrepreneur's story". How we made it in Africa. Retrieved 2023-12-07.
- ^ December 01 2022, Thursday (2022-11-30). "BasiGo boosts fleet with 15 new electric buses after new funding". Business Daily. Retrieved 2023-12-07.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Kipkemoi, Felix. "15 new e-buses launched, to operate within Nairobi". The Star. Retrieved 2023-12-07.
- ^ "KCB, BasiGo Partner to Drive Adoption of Electric PSV Buses - Kenyan Wallstreet". 2022-10-05. Retrieved 2023-12-07.
- ^ "Citi Hoppa, East Shuttle get electric buses". Nation. 2022-03-10. Retrieved 2023-12-07.
- ^ "Citi Hoppa, East Shuttle get electric buses". Nation. 2022-03-10. Retrieved 2023-12-07.
- ^ Kuhudzai, Remeredzai Joseph (2023-02-20). "BasiGo Partners With OMA Services To Bring Electric Buses To More Routes In Nairobi". CleanTechnica. Retrieved 2023-12-07.
- ^ "Embassava gets four new electric buses". The Star. Retrieved 2023-12-07.
- ^ "Super Metro gets first electric bus". The Star. Retrieved 2023-12-07.
- ^ Kuhudzai, Remeredzai Joseph (2023-05-12). "Metrotrans East Africa Limited Adds 5 Electric Buses To Its Fleet In Kenya". CleanTechnica. Retrieved 2023-12-07.
- ^ "Kenyan electric bus maker goes to Rwanda in expansion drive". The East African. 2023-07-29. Retrieved 2023-12-07.
- ^ Owili, Ronald (2023-07-26). "BasiGo to deliver first bus in Rwanda by October". KBC. Retrieved 2023-12-07.
- ^ Kuhudzai, Remeredzai Joseph (2023-11-10). "BasiGo Awarded $1.5 Million Grant From USAID To Scale Up Clean Public Transport In Rwanda". CleanTechnica. Retrieved 2023-12-14.
- ^ May 25 2023, Thursday (2023-05-24). "BasiGo sets sights on 16 EV charging stations in Nairobi by December". Business Daily. Retrieved 2023-12-07.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Abuya, Kenn (2023-05-25). "Boost for Kenya's EV industry as BasiGo adds another fast-charging station". TechCabal. Retrieved 2023-12-07.
- ^ GWMP (2022-07-01). "2022 Keeling Curve Prize Winners Announced!". GWMP. Retrieved 2023-12-07.
- ^ Kuhudzai, Remeredzai Joseph (2023-11-06). "BasiGo Wins Best Mobility & Logistics Award At Global Startup Awards Africa". CleanTechnica. Retrieved 2023-12-07.