How could BasiGo's electric bus initiative in Kenya affect William Ruto?
BasiGo's electric fleet may support Kenya's sustainable transport goals BasiGo's operation in Kenya, which involves replacing diesel buses with electric models sourced from China, contributes to the national economic and environmental agenda. By running on domestically generated renewable energy, the company keeps more money within the local economy compared to imported fuel. Furthermore, replacing one diesel bus with an electric one in Kenya results in an estimated 50 tons of avoided carbon dioxide emissions every year, supporting national efforts to reduce pollution and improve air quality.
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How it reaches William Ruto
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BasiGo operates in Rwanda and Kenya, using electric buses to replace diesel-powered vehicles on sub-Saharan African roads. The company sources its buses from China, which are assembled in Kenya. BasiGo utilizes a pay-as-you-drive business model and has operated a fleet of over 100 electric buses, having transported 15 million passengers since its founding.
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Because BasiGo's buses run on domestically generated renewable energy, the company keeps more money in the local economy compared with imported fuel. Additionally, replacing diesel buses with electric ones helps reduce transportation emissions, with one bus replacement avoiding 50 tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually.
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President of Kenya since 2022
Everything about William Ruto
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The facts so far
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- BasiGo has built a fleet of more than 100 electric buses to lease to customers in Kenya and Rwanda.technologyreview.com
- BasiGo's buses run on domestically generated renewable energy, with 90% of Kenya’s energy mix being renewable.technologyreview.com
- Replacing one diesel bus with an electric one in Kenya results in 50 tons of avoided carbon dioxide emissions every year.technologyreview.com
- The company has ferried 15 million passengers since BasiGo’s founding.technologyreview.com
Why it matters
The shift toward electric public transport is a major component of modernizing infrastructure and meeting climate targets in developing economies. For the Kenyan government, initiatives like BasiGo demonstrate private sector engagement in achieving sustainable development goals, which aligns with the national economic agenda set by President William Ruto.
This move also addresses significant public health concerns, as reducing particulate matter from diesel buses has potential health benefits, such as a decrease in childhood asthma cases. The company's model, which lowers the barrier of high up-front costs for operators, is also key to accelerating the adoption of cleaner technology across the country.
What we don't know yet
- How will the high up-front costs for infrastructure upgrades required for EV chargers be managed?
- What are the government's plans to support the expansion of charging depots and secure necessary land?
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- technologyreview.comOct 6
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