Why Chinese electric vehicle brands could ‘take a lead’ in Africa
- Uptake of EVs is low due to cost and lack of reliable electricity, analysts say
- But initiatives in the public transport sector are seen to be having an impact
If you take a bus to the airport in Nairobi, it might be an electric-powered one – probably manufactured by a Chinese company.
Kenyan electric vehicle firm BasiGo is one of the companies supplying the buses, in partnership with China’s largest EV maker BYD.
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Behind the scenes at BYD Auto: China’s biggest electric vehicle factory
It has so far delivered 19 BYD K6 electric buses to customers in Nairobi and installed the first three DC fast-charging depots along bus routes in the city, according to Jit Bhattacharya, co-founder and CEO of BasiGo.
“BasiGo has already received over 130 reservations for electric buses from bus operators in Nairobi eager to make the switch from their diesel buses,” he said.
The buses are imported into Kenya partially assembled from BYD Auto in China and completed at Associated Vehicle Assemblers in Mombasa, and they will begin full assembly of the BYD electric buses later this year.
BasiGo is not alone in the race to electrify public transport in Kenya. Swedish-Kenyan electric vehicle firm Roam is also rolling out electric buses and motorcycles in Nairobi. In July it opened an assembly plant in the city to manufacture 50,000 electric motorbikes a year.