Kenya’s E-Mobility start-up, BasiGo has launched a high-power DC Fast charging station for electric buses in Buru Buru. BasiGo promises to bring clean electric transport to all parts of Nairobi.
The Buruburu station will serve electric buses operated by OMA Services and Embassava SACCO. It can charge 6 electric buses simultaneously. Moreover, this station is projected to be the charge station for 25 electric buses by the end of the year.
This is not the first station for electric buses, BasiGo has 2 other charging sites in operation at Embakasi and Kikuyu. The new Buru Buru charging station makes it 3 for the rapidly growing start-up.
Moreover, the station is the first to be connected after the new E-mobility tariff approved by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) in March.
The E-mobility tariff provides low-cost power for electric vehicle charging during night-time hours.
In the new tariffs that took effect in April, EPRA established some new categories. One of them is a special E-Mobility tariff that is targeting the 350+ E-vehicles registered in Kenya.
Kenya Power Supporting the Growth of BasiGo
The new e-mobility tariff has been set at 16 Kenyan shillings for energy consumption of up to 15,000 kWh during peak periods. For off-peak periods, the tariff has been set at 8 Kenyan shillings per kWh, also up to 15,000 kWh.
This means charging during night hours will be a lot cheaper for the logistics company. This tariff is expected to remain constant for a period of 4 years.
Kenya Power, the main electricity retailer, had pushed for the special e-mobility tariff.
This was evident as Kenya Power was represented during the launch of BasiGo’s latest charging station.
Earlier in the year, the company had assured investors in the electric mobility value chain that the grid network is robust enough to support the transition from fossil fuel-powered vehicles.
Naturally, this shows the company is keen to push the growth of the E-Mobility sector. Kenya Power’s growth plan is to reliant on the growth of E-Mobility sector and electric cooking.
Furthermore, the company will help transition other sectors dependent on carbon energy to electricity.
