Proparco has backed e-mobility start-up BasiGo to scale mass public transport in African cities, reducing emissions significantly across rapidly growing urban areas.
Proparco says the investment in BasiGo, a Nairobi-based e-mobility start-up providing electric bus solutions for public transport operators in Kenya and Rwanda, will help the firm expand its electric bus fleet in Africa, with 100 electric buses already deployed across Kenya and Rwanda.
“By supporting BasiGo, we are helping to unlock a new generation of clean, reliable mass public transport solutions for tens of thousands of passengers in Kenya and Rwanda, and to scale this solution in other African cities,” said Jean Guyonnet-Dupérat, Regional Director for East Africa at Proparco. “
The company locally assembles electric buses, develops and operates charging infrastructure, and partners with bus operators to offer a cost-effective electric alternative to diesel for mass public transport in African cities.
Launched in 2021, BasiGo’s electric buses reduce CO₂ emissions by an estimated 70–90% compared to diesel buses, improved road safety, and public health through reduced air pollution.
“BasiGo’s locally assembled electric buses cut emissions, improve air quality, and support quality jobs—fully consistent with Proparco’s mandate on the continent, the Choose Africa initiative, and our commitments under the Paris Agreement.”
Proparco’s investment in BasiGo is undisclosed but it commits around €1bn per year to transport and mobility worldwide. In cities such as Dakar and Bogotá, Proparco supports private operators, notably through PPP arrangements, helping to scale electric bus systems and to make public transport more sustainable, affordable and inclusive.
With over 100 electric buses in operation across Kenya and Rwanda, BasiGo says each BasiGo electric bus mitigates more than 50 tCO₂e per year; in total, over 3,000 tCO₂e avoided to date. The firm is also working with 29 operators benefiting from buses that deliver approximately 40% annual operating cost savings.
“Proparco’s investment is a powerful endorsement of the future we are building for African cities,” said Jit Bhattacharya, CEO and Co-Founder of BasiGo. “It is a strong validation of our model and a catalyst for the next phase of growth: scaling local assembly, expanding our charging network, and accelerating our Road to 1000 electric buses.”