Kenya-based EV startup Roam has introduced a new shuttle bus model called Move, as the country aims to promote the use of electric vehicles.
Roam, previously known as Opibus, plans to increase production of the Move bus and expand its charging infrastructure in response to the growing demand for EV buses in Kenya.
This demand is driven by rising fuel prices and the need for sustainable transportation options.
By February 2023, Roam aims to deliver 50 Move buses and achieve a monthly production capacity of 40 units. The buses, which can seat 42 or 52 people and have a range of 200 kilometers, are assembled locally using parts from China. The cost of each bus is $135,000.
Roam, a bus design company, builds its buses according to local regulations, including having high ground clearance. By manufacturing the bus bodies locally, Roam can customize the design to meet specific preferences such as adjusting the door placement, increasing storage space, installing preferred window fittings, and adding air conditioning.
Dennis Wakaba, Roam’s country sales executive, explained that this enhances their design offerings.
In addition to their motorcycle production business, Roam announced plans in 2021 to launch electric buses. They recently introduced Roam Rapid, which was intended to support Kenya’s Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system with green vehicles, but the BRT project is currently on hold. BasiGo, Roam’s main competitor, already operates numerous electric buses on major routes in Nairobi, Kenya’s capital.
Roam, established in 2017 by Gardler, Filip Lövström, and Mikael Gånge, initially focused on auto conversions but later shifted its focus to electric vehicle production.
In 2018, the company began designing its own electric power trains, leveraging its in-house expertise and providing flexibility in bringing various products to the market. Roam is supported by Silicon Valley fund At One Ventures, Factor[e] Ventures, and pan-African VC firm Ambo Ventures.
The introduction of the Move bus aligns with Kenya’s efforts to promote electric vehicle adoption, including zero-rating the supply of electric buses and bicycles and exempting imported and locally assembled motorcycles from excise duty, as outlined in the current finance act.
Additionally, the country offers special power tariffs for charging electric vehicles.
Kenya’s energy authority recently released the Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging and Battery Swapping Infrastructure Guidelines 2023.
These guidelines aim to expedite the construction of public charging stations, which is currently a major obstacle to the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs).
Despite Kenya’s efforts to transition from fossil fuel vehicles, the uptake of electric mobility in Africa as a whole remains slow compared to developed countries. This is due to various challenges such as inadequate electricity grids, insufficient charging infrastructure, and high costs associated with acquiring EVs.
