BasiGo expands Rwandan e-bus fleet to 52 vehicles

Bus manufacturer BasiGo has expanded its electric bus fleet in Rwanda by 18 additional intercity buses. The new vehicles are intended for use on intercity routes and will drive forward the electrification of public transport in the East African country.

Basigo ruanda flotte — The new i8 intercity buses from BasiGo will serve long-distance routes in Rwanda electrically in the future
Image: BasiGo

With the latest delivery, BasiGo Rwanda has expanded its battery-electric bus fleet to 52 vehicles, according to bus-news.com. The locally assembled i8 intercity buses use CATL battery packs and offer a range of up to 350 kilometres. They will operate on routes connecting Kigali with Musanze, Rubavu, Huye, Rusizi and Nyagatare.

According to the report, the buses have already completed real-world testing, including a return journey between Kigali and Rusizi, Rwanda’s westernmost district. BasiGo intends to use the new vehicles to expand battery-electric bus services on longer intercity routes.

The fleet expansion forms part of BasiGo’s broader growth strategy in East Africa. In addition to its operations in Rwanda, the company is active in Kenya, where it operates its own electric bus manufacturing facility. Last year, CATL appointed BasiGo as an authorised service partner for Sub-Saharan Africa. Under the agreement, BasiGo’s service teams carry out maintenance and repair work on CATL battery systems, supporting the development of a regional aftersales network for electric vehicles.

BasiGo aims to progressively electrify public bus transport across East Africa. According to previous company statements, it plans to deploy a total of 1,000 battery-electric buses in the region by 2027. Alongside expanding its fleet, the company is investing in local manufacturing capacity and the development of an aftersales service network for electric vehicles.

bus-news.com