BasiGo
The Pitch
BasiGo expanded and streamlined the public bus system in Nairobi using electric buses that do not negatively impact residents’ health. They created a safer, more inclusive public transport environment while reducing transportation emissions.
The Problem
Diesel buses used for public transport in Nairobi generated air and noise pollution, created public health hazards and were inaccessible to vulnerable populations such as women, those with disabilities and people in underserved neighborhoods.
The Process
- Introduced a fleet of electric buses to Nairobi
- Incorporated technology that allowed residents to pre-book rides and submit digital payments
- Implemented a waste management strategy to dispose of compressor oil and batteries in eco-friendly manners
- Trained drivers and bus crews to enhance customer service and road safety
The Impact
- Provides an accessible, dignified transportation option for passengers with disabilities, women and those living in in underserved areas
- Made bus rides safer and more comfortable through improvements in driver training
- Helped women feel safer by implementing a digital payment system, thereby avoiding interactions during payment where harassment often occurred
- Contributes to better air quality and reduces noise pollution, creating a healthier living environment for residents
- Reduced the amount of waste that buses generate
- Reduces Kenya’s annual energy curtailment and optimizes energy use by charging buses at night
- Generates higher profits than diesel buses while keeping fares low for residents
- Advocates for electric vehicle adoption
- Redirected the government from using diesel buses and led to the passage of multiple laws that financially incentivized the adoption of EVs
- Inspired replication and expansion in Rwanda
