TechPolitics
BasiGo and its fleet of electric buses
Publication: MIT Technology Review
Author: Geoffrey Kamadi
Source published: 06/10/2026, 10:35:00 UTC
Briefing created: 06/10/2026, 11:29:03 UTC
Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 06/10/2026, 11:20:25 UTC.
Briefings
BasiGo, founded in 2021 in Nairobi, Kenya, leases over 100 electric buses assembled in Kenya from Chinese manufacturers to replace diesel fleets. The company operates a pay-as-you-drive model, offering maintenance, insurance, and charging network services to over 300 operators. Since 2021, the fleet has ferried 15 million passengers, with the first authorized service provider for CATL batteries. Key indicators show a 50-ton annual CO2 reduction per diesel bus replacement and a 40% lower deposit compared to diesel buses, though infrastructure challenges remain.
Key points
- BasiGo operates a pay-as-you-drive business model in Kenya and Rwanda, leasing over 100 electric buses assembled in Kenya from Chinese manufacturers to over 300 operators.
- The company has ferried 15 million passengers since 2021, with the first authorized service provider for CATL batteries, and aims to replace diesel buses with electric ones to reduce emissions.
Context and limitations
Data covers the period from 2021 to 2026, with a snapshot limitation of 150 buses on the road and 1,200 customer reservations. Future expansion plans for trucks are unannounced, and specific operational costs beyond the deposit are not quantified.
Generated by Bittrees-hosted qwen35-2b sha256:aaf42c8b7c3c on 06/10/2026, 11:29:03 UTC. Based on publisher-provided feed evidence; may not cover the full original article. Check the source for details.
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