Kenya is, surprisingly, one of the countries that is lagging behind when it comes to the adoption of electric cars. One sector that has seen some significant action in Kenya, however, is the electric bus segment, catalysed by innovative pay-as-you-drive programs which are essentially energy as a service channels. For example, BasiGo’s pay-as-you-drive offering unbundles ownership of the battery from the vehicle. Transport operators then get access to a bus at a price that is more comparative to a diesel bus and then pay a subscription for an energy bundle packaged as a battery rental that includes all charging, all scheduled maintenance, and roadside assistance. Through the pay-as-you-drive service, bus owners are also provided with real-time monitoring and comprehensive analytics of every electric bus in their fleet.
As this charging infrastructure grows to support an expansion bus fleet, there will be room to open it up to the public to charge their electric cars. The main driver of a successful charging business is utilisation. With Kenya’s low penetration of electric cars, a stand-alone infrastructure business becomes a challenge. But a charging network underpinned by the captive electric bus fleet becomes promising. Therefore, the increasing adoption of electric buses in Kenya could play a key role in supporting the adoption of electric cars, as EV owners’ concerns around the availability of adequate infrastructure, and ultimately range anxiety, will slowly but surely be alleviated.
BasiGo, a provider of electric buses and an energy solutions provider, has recently partnered with Rubis Energy Kenya to expand fast-charging infrastructure along Kenya’s key transport corridors, supporting the growth of electric mobility across the country. The first charging station under the partnership is now operational at the Rubis fuel service station in Sabaki, Athi River, with additional sites in Meru, Nanyuki, and Nyeri scheduled to be commissioned later on this month. BasiGo says the stations will be open to the public and will serve electric buses and vans, trucks, passenger vehicles, and other compatible electric vehicles, expanding access to reliable charging infrastructure and making electric vehicle operations practical across intercity routes in Kenya.
The Sabaki charging station is equipped with both CCS2 and GB/T DC 100kW fast chargers, capable of charging a typical passenger vehicle in under one hour, with compatibility extending across a wide range of commercial electric vehicles. All sites under the partnership will feature similar charging technology and offer charging at an indicative rate of KES 48 per kWh, ensuring consistent and reliable experience across the network. It looks like this will be the formula going forward. Traditionally, vehicles had been coming mostly from Europe, hence the adoption of the CCS2 standard. However, an increasing number of vehicles are now starting to come from China, hence GB/T is now also gaining traction.
Moses Nderitu, Managing Director, Kenya, BasiGo, said: “The question is no longer whether operators and the public want to go electric, but whether the infrastructure is in place to support them at scale. Every charging station we deploy along key transport corridors strengthens the business case for electric mobility and makes intercity electric transport more practical, reliable, and commercially viable. Partnerships like this are critical to building the confidence needed to accelerate EV adoption across the country.”
Frederic Maupetit, Managing Director, Rubis Energy Kenya, said: “This partnership between BasiGo and Rubis Energy Kenya is a pivotal step in powering Kenya’s sustainable future. By putting our retail network behind the next generation of mobility, we are making EV travel practical for Kenyans along major transport corridors. This is a clear signal of Rubis’ commitment to leading the energy transition here.”
The partnership between Rubis and BasiGo is an interesting one. Rubis has network coverage of more than 300 fuel stations in Kenya and more in the East and Southern African region, and BasiGo has one of the largest networks of DC fast chargers for electric vehicles in East Africa. This partnership shows that traditional players are starting to collaborate with EV charging infrastructure providers, unlocking synergies that could accelerate the rollout of electric vehicle infrastructure to support the adoption of electric vehicles in Kenya and in the region. It will continue to expand the EV infrastructure needed to support reliable, scalable electric mobility, with additional charging sites planned across key transport corridors in Kenya and the wider region.
Images courtesy of BasiGo
