BasiGo Rwanda, an electric vehicle (EV) company, has been awarded a RWF 300 million ($225,000) recoverable grant by Ireme Invest, the investment arm of the Rwanda Green Fund, aimed at enhancing its electric charging infrastructure. This financial boost is intended to support the increasing number of electric public transport buses within Kigali. As part of the infrastructure upgrade, BasiGo will construct a new charging facility with the capacity to service a minimum of 20 electric buses overnight.
The grant allocation follows BasiGo’s strategic expansion into Rwanda from Kenya, which occurred a year prior, with the ambitious goal of introducing 200 electric buses to Rwandan transport operators. These buses are provided through BasiGo’s innovative Pay-As-You-Drive financing model, designed to make the transition to electric buses more accessible.
Subsequent to its entry into the Rwandan market, BasiGo secured $1.5 million in funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). This funding was directed towards scaling up BasiGo’s operational capabilities within Rwanda.
Additionally, in March 2024, BasiGo successfully raised $3 million in equity funding from the CFAO Group. This investment is earmarked for the expansion of electric bus production facilities in both Kenya and Rwanda, further solidifying BasiGo’s commitment to the region.
Doreen Orishaba, the Managing Director of BasiGo Rwanda, commented on the recent funding, stating, “Over the past seven months, BasiGo electric buses have set a new benchmark for safe, comfortable, and eco-friendly public transport solutions, contributing to a significant reduction in carbon emissions.”
Jit Bhattacharya, CEO and Co-Founder of BasiGo, emphasized the company’s readiness to support Rwanda’s shift towards a fully electrified public transport system, citing their innovative Pay-As-You-Drive financing model as a key facilitator in this transition.
The company proudly introduced the R10 Rumuri, Kigali’s inaugural fully electric bus, in December 2023. This vehicle, which can accommodate up to 70 passengers, is a significant step in line with the Rwandan government’s efforts to expand the city’s public transport fleet.
BasiGo Rwanda has been recognized as one of nine pioneering enterprises that are poised to make a substantial impact within three key investment domains of Ireme Invest. The Rwanda Green Fund has also acknowledged BasiGo’s contribution to the nation’s climate action and sustainable development objectives.
By July 2024, BasiGo’s electric vehicles operating in Kigali had already served in excess of 300,000 passengers, translating to over RWF 147 million in fare revenue for the transport operators. In terms of environmental benefits, the company reported that its operations had resulted in the reduction of over 60 tonnes of CO2 emissions and the avoidance of using 26,662 litres of diesel.
In related developments, BasiGo’s operations in Kenya have taken a significant leap forward with the establishment of an electric bus production line at the Kenya Vehicle Manufacturers facility in Thika. This initiative marks the first specialized assembly line for contemporary electric buses in the country, signaling a new era in Kenya’s automotive manufacturing industry.
