By Elijah Odhiambo
Kenya’s electric mobility start-up, BasiGo has unveiled a high-power DC Fast charging station for electric buses in Buru Buru, Nairobi.
The company revealed plans to set up at least 16 electric vehicles (EV) charging stations across Nairobi by the end of the year as the country’s e-mobility revolution continues to gather momentum.
Speaking on Wednesday during the launch of the firm’s first-ever public charging station in Nairobi’s Buruburu estate, BasiGo CEO Jit Bhattacharya, said the firm now has three charging depot’s in the city, revealing plans to establish 16 stations before the end of the year.
“This is our third charging depot in the city but it is the first to be open to members of the public. We are looking to establish 16 such stations across Nairobi by December this year before rolling out the service to other parts of the country,” stated Bhattacharya.
BasiGo has 2 other charging sites in operation at Embakasi and Kikuyu.
The Ksh4 million facility which is able to charge six buses at a go, BasiGo said, will for a start serve its current fleet of 17 buses till December when it will open up for third-party public use.
“This is a charging station with the capability of charging six electric buses simultaneously but it also has the scope and the space for us to eventually expand to the charging of 30 electric buses at this first area,” stated Bhattacharya.
Bhattacharya said that the typical recharging period for a bus at the station is two hours, with the charging often happening at night since the power is sufficient to run a full-day ride.
BasiGo also noted that since its entry into Kenya’s e-mobility space in March last year, its fleet has to date covered 280,000 kilometres on Nairobi roads, ferried 360,000 passengers and in the process mitigated the emission of 120 tonnes of carbon.
The startup is keen on deploying 1,000 electric buses in the country by 2025 as it pursues its long-term ambition of achieving zero emissions on the distance covered in the wake of accelerated global climate change effects.
In line with E- Mobility tariffs
The station is the first to be connected after the new E-mobility tariff approved by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) in March.
The E-mobility tariff provides low-cost power for electric vehicle charging during night-time hours.
In the new tariffs that took effect in April, EPRA established some new categories. One of them is a special E-Mobility tariff that is targeting the 350+ E-vehicles registered in Kenya.
Electricity Charging Cost
The new e-mobility tariff has been set at Ksh16 for energy consumption of up to 15,000 kWh during peak periods. For off-peak periods, the tariff has been set at Ksh8 per kWh, also up to 15,000 kWh.
This means charging during night hours will be a lot cheaper for the logistics company. This tariff is expected to remain constant for a period of 4 years.
The charging cost will be incorporated in the firm’s pay-as-you-drive subscription scheme where buyers pay a daily fee of Ksh20 per kilometre to cover the cost of leasing the battery.
Pay-as- You-Drive
BasiGo’s Pay-as-You-Drive allows owners to purchase the Ksh6 electric bus without having to pay for the expensive battery technology. This makes the upfront cost similar to a traditional diesel bus.
Owners can access their unique Pay-As-You-Drive battery subscription service, which covers everything related to the battery, including charging, warranty, service, and maintenance. Operators are charged daily based on kilometers driven, and operators make payments directly to BasiGo. In return, the operator has complete peace of mind in owning an electric bus throughout its life.
Benefits of Pay-As-You-Drive:
- A simple daily fee based on kilometers driven.
- Digital billing & payments directly between operator & BasiGo.
- Subscription includes nightly charging of the battery.
- Includes all standard service and maintenance for the bus.
- Free battery replacement in the event of any battery issue.
- Includes dedicated customer care, roadside assistance, free software upgrades, and more.
How to book an electric bus
Booking an electric bus can as at now sometimes prove a little difficult because of the few number of the buses in operation.
However, there is a live link being offered by BasiGo that shows the exact location of their buses within the Nairobi metropolitan.
You can access the link here for further details.
Lastly, note that the buses serve a few routes:
- Citi Hoppa: CBD – Allsops-Airport
- East Shuttle: City Stadium – Buruburu – Dandora
- Super Metro: CBD – Kikuyu and CBD – Kitengela
- OMA: CBD – Jogoo Road – Buruburu – Civil Servants (CIVO)
