First public e-bus charging station opened in Nairobi

Kenya has launched the first public electric bus charging station, a major achievement in its bid to fully transition to green mobility.

Fossil fuel-powered vehicles which emit carbon are said to be the leading contributors of the climate change.

The high-power DC station in Nairobi's Buruburu owned by BasiGo, a local startup company, is also the first special e-mobility to apply a tariff applicable to those charging electric vehicles (EVs).

This follows a successful retail tariff application to the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) early this year.

It has the capacity to charge six electric buses simultaneously and is set to serve e-buses for OMA services and Embassava Sacco.

Speaking during the launch, Company's CEO and co-founder Jit Bhattacharya said the station has been developed with the support of Kenya power company (KPLC).

'With the new E-mobility tariff, we can invest in infrastructure like this charging station and enable the rapid growth of the electric vehicle industry in Kenya,' he said.

KPLC's managing director Joseph Siror said as the country's off-taker and distributor of electric power, it is taking a leading role in protecting the environment through the strategic dispatch of clean energy.

Kenya Power, he added, is ready and aligned to support this anticipated demand increase through strategic grid investments to provide quality and reliable electricity supply.

'As we are all aware, the approved tariff for electric mobility is Sh17 per kWh for daytime charging with a significant reduction to Sh8 per kWh for off-peak charging when there is a surplus of renewable energy supply. This applies to consumption between 200 kWh and 15,000 kWh,' he stated.

BasiGo is among the 20 startup companies that have been licensed in the country to deliver e-buses.

The government has announced it will offer incentives to private companies involved in the importation of electric cars and assembling of the vehicles.

'There must be ways of incentivizing this investment so that it becomes easy for the public service sector (PSV) to adopt e-mobility… We are looking for tax incentives and other financial support that is going to be given to the private sector,' said Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen.

Manufacturers, assemblers, sellers and spare part dealers are also going to benefit.

Among the transport saccos that are currently owning the e-buses are Super Metro, Embassava, Metro trans and City shuttle among others.