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{{Short description|Kenyan electric bus leasing company}}
{{Infobox company
| name = BasiGo
| founded = 2021 in Nairobi, Kenya
| founder = Jit Bhattacharya<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web |last=Collins |first=Tom |date=2022-12-11 |title=Starting an electric bus company in Kenya: An entrepreneur's story |url=https://www.howwemadeitinafrica.com/starting-an-electric-bus-company-in-kenya-an-entrepreneurs-story/149403/ |access-date=2023-12-07 |website=How we made it in Africa |language=en-US}}</ref>
| hq_location_city = [[Nairobi]]
| hq_location_country = Kenya
| key_people = Jonathan Green (co-founder)<ref name="auto1"/>
| website = {{URL|basi-go.com}}
}}
'''BasiGo''' is a Kenyan electric bus company that leases electric buses to local bus owners. It is headquartered in [[Nairobi]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Abuya |first=Kenn |date=2023-06-20 |title=How electric bus companies in Nairobi are taking different approaches to public transit electrification |url=https://techcabal.com/2023/06/20/basigo-and-roam-electric-buses-nairobi/ |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=TechCabal |language=en-US}}</ref> BasiGo initially imported fully or partially assembled electric buses from [[BYD Auto]]; however, since 2023, it has partnered with [[Associated Vehicle Assemblers]] to fully assemble imported parts in Kenya.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kanali |first=Nixon |date=2023-01-24 |title=BasiGo and AVA to assemble 1,000 electric buses in Kenya |url=https://techtrendske.co.ke/2023/01/24/basigo-and-ava-to-assemble-1000-electric-buses-in-kenya/ |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=TechTrendsKE |language=en-US}}</ref> It was founded in 2021 by Jonathan Green and Jit Bhattacharya. As of 2023, BasiGo has almost 20 electric buses, including [[BYD K series|BYD K6]] model electric buses, which have 25 seats each, and E9 Kubwa buses, which have 36 seats each.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kuhudzai |first=Remeredzai Joseph |date=2023-08-14 |title=BasiGo Introduces The E9 Kubwa Electric Bus, Which Is Specifically Designed For The Kenyan Market |url=https://cleantechnica.com/2023/08/14/basigo-introduces-the-e9-kubwa-electric-bus-which-is-specifically-designed-for-the-kenyan-market/ |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=CleanTechnica |language=en-US}}</ref>
== History ==
Following restrictions on diesel for [[matatu]]s due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] and environmental changes afterwards,<ref>{{Cite web |last=The Star Team |title=Matatus weak link in anti-corona war |url=https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2020-03-17-matatus-weak-link-in-anti-corona-war/ |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=The Star |language=en-KE}}</ref> Jit Bhattacharya decided to create the first electric buses in [[Nairobi]], becoming BasiGo's [[Chief executive officer|CEO]] and co-founder.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Page |first=Thomas |date=2023-02-10 |title=Electric buses are driving a silent revolution in Nairobi |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/10/africa/nairobi-kenya-electric-buses-roam-basigo-spc-intl/index.html |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref>
=== Roll out of the first buses (2021) ===
On 2 November 2021, BasiGo announced the start of its operations in Nairobi, after receiving $1,000,000 in pre-seed funding.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Njanja |first=Annie |date=2021-11-02 |title=EV startup BasiGo debuts in Nairobi after $1 million pre-seed funding |url=https://techcrunch.com/2021/11/02/ev-startup-basigo-debuts-in-nairobi-after-1-million-pre-seed-funding/ |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}}</ref> Its first two buses began operations on 22 March 2022. They were [[BYD K series|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 [[Central business district|CBD]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Odenyo |first=Akello|title=A ride in Kenya's first electric matatu |url=https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2022-04-05-a-ride-in-kenyas-first-electric-matatu/ |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=The Star |language=en-KE}}</ref> Within 6 months, the buses had covered 150,000&nbsp;km and carried over 155,000 passengers, according to Jit Bhattacharya.<ref name="auto1"/>
After getting its first two vehicles, BasiGo shipped 15 more BYD K6 electric buses, which were cleared from the port of [[Mombasa]] on 30 November 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=December 01 2022 |first=Thursday |date=2022-11-30 |title=BasiGo boosts fleet with 15 new electric buses after new funding |url=https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/bd/corporate/companies/basigo-boosts-fleet-after-new-funding--4038682 |access-date=2023-12-07 |website=Business Daily |language=en}}</ref> Unlike the first two buses, the new buses were shipped while partially assembled; their creation was finished in Kenya by Associated Vehicle Assemblers in January 2023. On 14 February 2023, the new buses were flagged off and began to operate within Nairobi under different local shuttles.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kipkemoi |first=Felix |title=15 new e-buses launched, to operate within Nairobi |url=https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/realtime/2023-04-14-15-new-e-buses-launched-to-operate-within-nairobi/ |access-date=2023-12-07 |website=The Star |language=en-KE}}</ref>
=== Expansion to Rwanda (2023) ===
On 26 July 2023, BasiGo signed letters of intent with [[Rwanda]]n bus operators Royal Express, Volcano Express and Kigali Bus Service to provide them with electric buses via a [[Usage-based insurance|Pay-As-You-Drive]] model.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-07-29 |title=Kenyan electric bus maker goes to Rwanda in expansion drive |url=https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/business/kenyan-electric-bus-maker-goes-to-rwanda-4319950 |access-date=2023-12-07 |website=The East African |language=en}}</ref> They also announced their partnership with AC Mobility, an automated fare collection service provider.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Owili |first=Ronald |date=2023-07-26 |title=BasiGo to deliver first bus in Rwanda by October |url=https://www.kbc.co.ke/basigo-to-deliver-first-bus-in-rwanda-by-october/ |access-date=2023-12-07 |website=KBC |language=en-US}}</ref>
In November 2023, [[United States Agency for International Development|USAID]] granted BasiGo $1,500,000 to conduct research with Rwandan bus 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.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kuhudzai |first=Remeredzai Joseph |date=2023-11-10 |title=BasiGo Awarded $1.5 Million Grant From USAID To Scale Up Clean Public Transport In Rwanda |url=https://cleantechnica.com/2023/11/10/basigo-awarded-1-5-million-grant-from-usaid-to-scale-up-clean-public-transport-in-rwanda/ |access-date=2023-12-14 |website=CleanTechnica |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Leasing ==
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. The first option allowed companies to buy a bus without batteries for $35,600; BasiGo would then lease the batteries to them, with local matatu operators paying BasiGo $0.16 per kilometer driven using a battery. The other option was to lease the entire bus by paying an up-front deposit and paying the rest while operating the bus.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-10-05 |title=KCB, BasiGo Partner to Drive Adoption of Electric PSV Buses - Kenyan Wallstreet |url=https://kenyanwallstreet.com/kcb-partners-with-basigo-kenya-to-psv-buses/ |access-date=2023-12-07 |language=en-US}}</ref>
As of 2023, BasiGo has leased electric buses to 5 local Kenyan bus shuttles.
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Local Shuttle
!No. of buses
!Model
!Routes
|-
|Citi Hoppa<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |date=2022-03-10 |title=Citi Hoppa, East Shuttle get electric buses |url=https://nation.africa/kenya/news/citi-hoppa-east-shuttle-get-electric-buses-3743044 |access-date=2023-12-07 |website=Nation |language=en}}</ref>
|1
|BYD K6
|CBD, Allsops, JKIA
|-
|East Shuttle<ref name="auto"/>
|1
|BYD K6
|Buruburu, Dandora
|-
|OMA Services<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kuhudzai |first=Remeredzai Joseph |date=2023-02-20 |title=BasiGo Partners With OMA Services To Bring Electric Buses To More Routes In Nairobi |url=https://cleantechnica.com/2023/02/19/basigo-partners-with-oma-services-to-bring-electric-buses-to-more-routes-in-nairobi/ |access-date=2023-12-07 |website=CleanTechnica |language=en-US}}</ref>
|2
|BYD K6
|CBD, Jogoo Road, Buruburu, Civil servants
|-
|Embassava<ref>{{Cite web |title=Embassava gets four new electric buses |url=https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/realtime/2023-05-19-embassava-gets-four-new-electric-buses/ |access-date=2023-12-07 |website=The Star |language=en-KE}}</ref>
|4
|BYD K6
|CBD, Jacaranda Estate, Nyayo Esate
|-
|Super Metro<ref>{{Cite web |title=Super Metro gets first electric bus |url=https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/realtime/2023-02-15-supermetro-bus-service-gets-first-electric-bus/ |access-date=2023-12-07 |website=The Star |language=en-KE}}</ref>
|1
|BYD K6
|CBD, Kikuyu, Kitengela
|-
|Metro Trans<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kuhudzai |first=Remeredzai Joseph |date=2023-05-12 |title=Metrotrans East Africa Limited Adds 5 Electric Buses To Its Fleet In Kenya |url=https://cleantechnica.com/2023/05/12/metrotrans-east-africa-limited-adds-5-electric-buses-to-its-fleet-in-kenya/ |access-date=2023-12-07 |website=CleanTechnica |language=en-US}}</ref>
|5
|BYD K6
|Utawala, Community-Upperhill, Kiambu
|}
== 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, their other charging stations were not for public use. The first two were established in [[Embakasi]] and [[Kikuyu, Kenya|Kikuyu]]. The third charging station is able to charge up to 6 buses simultaneously.<ref>{{Cite web |last=May 25, 2023 |first=Thursday |date=2023-05-24 |title=BasiGo sets sights on 16 EV charging stations in Nairobi by December |url=https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/bd/corporate/companies/basigo-sets-sights-on-16-ev-charging-stations-in-nairobi--4245842 |access-date=2023-12-07 |website=Business Daily |language=en}}</ref> BasiGo's charging stations rely on [[renewable energy]], since they receive energy from the national energy grid, which receives 90% of its energy from renewable sources during the day and 100% from them at night.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Abuya |first=Kenn |date=2023-05-25 |title=Boost for Kenya's EV industry as BasiGo adds another fast-charging station |url=https://techcabal.com/2023/05/25/basigo-adds-another-fast-charging-station-in-kenya/ |access-date=2023-12-07 |website=TechCabal |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Awards and achievements ==
* Keeling Curve Prize (2022) - $25,000<ref>{{Cite web |last=GWMP |date=2022-07-01 |title=2022 Keeling Curve Prize Winners Announced! |url=https://www.globalwarmingmitigationproject.org/blog/2022-keeling-curve-prize-winners-announced-1 |access-date=2023-12-07 |website=GWMP |language=en}}</ref>
* Best mobility and logistics award at the Global Startup Awards Africa (2023).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kuhudzai |first=Remeredzai Joseph |date=2023-11-06 |title=BasiGo Wins Best Mobility & Logistics Award At Global Startup Awards Africa |url=https://cleantechnica.com/2023/11/06/basigo-wins-best-mobility-logistics-award-at-global-startup-awards-africa/ |access-date=2023-12-07 |website=CleanTechnica |language=en-US}}</ref>
== References ==
{{reflist}}
== External links ==
* {{Official website|https://www.basi-go.com/}}
[[Category:Electric bus manufacturers]]
[[Category:Transport companies established in 2021]]
[[Category:Transport companies of Kenya]]
[[Category:2021 establishments in Kenya]]