{"id":20484,"date":"2026-10-06T12:07:02","date_gmt":"2026-10-06T12:07:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.theck1.no\/?p=20484"},"modified":"2026-10-06T12:07:02","modified_gmt":"2026-10-06T12:07:02","slug":"basigo-and-its-fleet-of-electric-buses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.theck1.no\/?p=20484","title":{"rendered":"BasiGo and its fleet of electric buses"},"content":{"rendered":"

AI-rewritten:<\/strong> This is a summary of an article from MIT Technology Review, rewritten by AI (Qwen, running locally) to make it easier to read. The facts come from the original article – read it for the full story.<\/p>\n

MIT Technology Review • Geoffrey Kamadi • October 6, 2026<\/strong><\/div>\n\n

BasiGo aims to replace tens of thousands of diesel-powered buses in sub-Saharan Africa with electric ones that generate far fewer emissions. The company’s pay-as-you-drive business model is making electric vehicles more attainable and changing how public transport operates. In 2020, the Kenyan government temporarily suspended public transportation for three days during the covid-19 pandemic. This suspension led to a dramatic improvement in air quality, with Mt. Kenya becoming visible in Nairobi from roughly 175 kilometers away. Some observers even spotted Mt. Kilimanjaro in the distance.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

This clear air inspired BasiGo’s founders to build a fleet of more than 100 electric buses for lease in Kenya and Rwanda. Since its founding in 2021, these buses have ferried 15 million passengers. The company does not manufacture its own vehicles; instead, it assembles buses from China in Kenya. Jit Bhattacharya, co-founder and CEO, explains that BasiGo’s innovation lies in offering a full range of services to make electric buses competitive with internal combustion engine (ICE) models. These services include leasing, maintenance, insurance, and a charging network for individual operators or bus cooperatives.<\/p>\n

BasiGo is the first authorized service provider in sub-Saharan Africa for CATL, the world’s largest EV battery company. While the initial price of electric buses is high compared to combustion-engine models, long-term expenses are lower due to fuel savings. Under BasiGo’s model, operators pay a deposit that is 40% less than required for a diesel bus and a daily lease fee. Bhattacharya estimates this approach yields a five- to ten-times higher return on investment over the life of the bus. Replacing one diesel bus with an electric one in Kenya results in 50 tons of avoided carbon dioxide emissions annually. Since Kenya’s energy mix is 90% renewable, operating these buses keeps more money in the local economy compared to imported fuel.<\/p>\n

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Source:<\/strong> MIT Technology Review • Geoffrey Kamadi • October 6, 2026<\/p>\n

Read the original article at MIT Technology Review →<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

AI-rewritten: This is a summary of an article from MIT Technology Review, rewritten by AI (Qwen, running locally) to make it easier to read. The facts come from the original article – read it for the full story. MIT Technology Review • Geoffrey Kamadi • October 6, 2026 BasiGo aims to replace tens of thousands<\/p>\n

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