Following the introduction of the country’s first electric passenger buses on Wednesday, Kenya Power now claims to have enough power to support an electric-mobility system.
Kenya Power, according to Managing Director Rosemary Oduor, has enough electricity to charge 50,000 buses and 2 million motorcycles during off-peak hours.
According to a statement, Kenya power has an installed capacity of 2991 MW and an off-peak load of 1200 MW.
“It is a phenomenal industry that will have a huge impact on the economy, while protecting the environment,” she stated.
She explained that this is enough power to support the entire e-mobility ecosystem, including domestic and commercial charging stations.
She went on to say that the initiative “will create thousands of jobs for young and creative Kenyans and has the potential to make Kenya the regional leader in this space.”
Oduor stated that “Kenya Power has established a liaison office which will act as our one-stop shop to champion the Company’s e-mobility business” to help the country’s electrified motorization grow.
“Through this office, we will work with other stakeholders to support the development of the e-mobility eco-system, which will include the identification of sites for potential charging stations, as well as requisite geo-mapping software to enable users locate the nearest charging station.”
BasiGo, an electric mobility startup, has launched the country’s first electric passenger bus, which is set to revolutionize the transportation industry.
The company is currently conducting a pilot program with two bus operators to demonstrate that the concept can work in Kenya.
The project’s pilot partners are Citi Hoppa and Eastland Eagles. The buses will run from the CBD to JKIA and from City Stadium to Dandora.
Each 25-seater bus will cost Sh5 million, with commuters paying Sh20 per kilometer.
Furthermore, BasiGo has a portal where customers can log in and see the location of the bus, the charge in the bus, and the electricity potential of the bus on payments.
Oduor stated that Kenya Power, in addition to BasiGo, is in discussions with five other e-mobility players who are either currently operating in the market or planning to enter, and that the company is looking forward to working with even more as the industry develops.
