Super Metro gets first electric bus

Basi Go, a Kenyan electric mobility startup on Tuesday handed the Super Metro bus transport service company their very first electric bus. 

Basi Go aims to create a future of clean, fully electric bus transportation on the continent. 

They noted that the number of electric buses in the country has been on the rise. 

"The number of Electric Buses in Kenya keeps growing. Today, we handed Super Metro it's first electric bus," the start-up said. 

Basi Go said the new electric bus will transport passengers along the CBD to Kikuyu route as well as CBD to Kitengela route. 

"The bus will ply the CBD-Kikuyu and CBD Kitengela routes," Basi Go said. 

This comes as the Kenya power and lighting company moved to develop a framework for electric motorisation in the country. 

Kenya Power Managing Director Geoffrey Muli estimated there are at least 1,000 electric-powered vehicles currently in Kenya, ranging from two-wheelers, three-wheelers and four-wheelers.

Muli said electric motorisation is gaining traction globally as electric vehicles have been identified as a sustainable source of transport.

"Demand is expected to accelerate in the coming years, as car manufacturers increasingly roll out electricity-powered vehicles," Muli said. 

The power company met with more than 300 stakeholders in the energy, finance and transport sectors from February 7 to 8 to develop a framework for electric motorisation in the country.