BasiGo, a n e-mobility startup, is transforming public transportation in East Africa with its innovative electric bus model. Starting with just two buses in Nairobi in 2022, the company has rapidly expanded, deploying its 100th electric bus across Kenya and Rwanda by mid-2025.
These buses now serve over 20,000 passengers daily, save 250 tonnes of CO₂ emissions monthly, and support more than 1,000 local jobs.
BasiGo’s success hinges on its pioneering “Pay-As-You-Drive” financing model, which addresses the high upfront cost of electric buses—often six times that of diesel alternatives.
This comprehensive package includes the bus, charging, maintenance, insurance, and a 90% uptime guarantee, making the transition to electric fleets both affordable and reliable for operators.
Jit Bhattacharya, Co-Founder and CEO at BasiGo said,”E-mobility is the 21st century industrial revolution in Africa. It will pave the way for energy independence and foster a thriving local automotive manufacturing sector, becoming one of the largest sources of employment for the world’s fastest-growing population.
Bhattacharya said:”It will position Africa as a global model for affordable, low-carbon transport. And remarkably, this sector is being driven entirely by startup companies! BasiGo is proud to join this movement alongside so many innovative African firms, and we will not rest until this transformation is fully realized.”
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In Rwanda, BasiGo launched a pilot in December 2023 and is now extending routes beyond Kigali to connect secondary towns with long-range buses capable of round-trip trips without recharging. To support this expansion, the company is scaling up its infrastructure.
The Rwandex Service and Charging Depot, set to become East Africa’s largest electric bus depot, will soon charge up to 25 buses nightly. Additional charging stations are being deployed across both countries to facilitate seamless intercity travel.
BasiGo’s model leverages East Africa’s renewable energy and local manufacturing, offering a sustainable blueprint for e-mobility growth across the continent. By combining innovative financing, robust infrastructure, and regionally tailored solutions, BasiGo is driving a cleaner, more accessible future for public transportation in Kenya and Rwanda.
