KBS Acquires First Electric Bus as Part of Fleet Modernization Strategy
Kenya Bus Service Management Ltd (KBS), the country’s oldest bus operator founded in 1928, has taken a significant step towards modernizing its fleet by acquiring its first electric bus.
The 36-seater electric vehicle was built at BasiGo’s dedicated assembly line located at the Kenya Vehicle Assembly plant in Thika. This new addition to the KBS fleet will serve the CBD-Kibera, CBD-KNH, and CBD-Utawala routes.
“We are excited to partner with BasiGo, Africa’s leading electric bus company, to help us upgrade our fleet,” said Edwins Mukabanah, KBS Managing Director, during the launch ceremony held at Kencom. KBS has placed an additional order for 25 electric buses to be delivered in the coming months.
“We also want to be the leader in electric charging infrastructure, ensuring all Electric Vehicles coming into Nairobi are charged at the KBS depot,” Mukabanah added.
BasiGo, committed to introducing cleaner and greener public transport solutions in Kenya, welcomed KBS to the “e-mobility fraternity.”
“We are delighted to have KBS join us as we address climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” said Samuel Kamunya, BasiGo Head of Business Development. “Each electric bus deployed on our roads mitigates 50 tonnes of carbon emissions per year, contributing to a healthier Nairobi. Our goal is to deliver 100 locally assembled electric buses to Kenyan operators by the end of 2024.”
Both KBS and BasiGo share similar operational models, encompassing driver training, route simulation, service depots, and a centralized operations center. As of July 2024, BasiGo’s electric buses have traversed over 2 million kilometers and carried more than 3 million passengers since their Kenyan launch in March 2022.
BasiGo holds over 500 orders from Nairobi bus operators and plans to manufacture and supply over 1,000 electric buses to Kenyan PSVs in the next three years, creating over 300 green jobs in the process.