BasiGo is a green mobility startup launched in Nairobi, Kenya, in 2021 by co-founders Jit Bhattacharya and Jonathan Green. The idea emerged from recognizing Kenya’s abundant renewable energy potential and the opportunity to electrify the country’s public transport system—particularly the widespread diesel-powered matatus, which are both polluting and expensive to operate. Rather than developing entirely new vehicle models, BasiGo chose a strategic route: importing BYD K6 and E9 Kubwa electric bus models and partnering with Kenya Vehicle Manufacturers and Associated Vehicle Assemblers to assemble the buses locally. This approach reduced logistics costs and accelerated deployment.
The company’s R&D efforts have not focused on inventing new engines or batteries, but instead on optimizing the assembly process for African conditions and developing a robust vehicle management system—most notably the “Pay-As-You-Drive” credit platform.
In its initial phase, BasiGo launched two K6 buses for pilot testing in March 2022 with operators Citi Hoppa and East Shuttle. Within six months, the buses logged over 150,000 kilometers and transported 155,000 passengers—demonstrating stability, performance, and reliability in real-world conditions. By late 2022, the company assembled an additional 15 buses and increased its fleet to 20 by mid-2023, alongside building its first charging stations in Buruburu, Embakasi, and Kikuyu—the first of which can charge six electric buses simultaneously.
BasiGo uses motors and batteries from BYD, integrating them with route management software, energy consumption tracking, and maintenance scheduling via “Jani”—a digital platform that allows fleet operators to monitor vehicle performance and adopt a pay-per-kilometer billing model. The charging system is synchronized with Kenya’s national grid, which sources over 90% of its daytime electricity from renewables, ensuring that the buses are powered by clean energy and contribute to CO₂ emissions reduction.
This solution directly addresses the high upfront costs and financial burden associated with transitioning from diesel to electric. Unlike traditional models where buyers must invest in both the bus and the battery, BasiGo offers an option to purchase the bus (excluding the battery) for about USD 35,600 and pay a usage-based battery lease fee (USD 0.14–0.16 per km). This flexible financing model lowers risk, improves cash flow, and makes it easier for operators to adopt electric mobility.
As of mid-2025, BasiGo operates a fleet of over 41 electric buses in Kenya, with over 2.65 million kilometers driven, 1,179 tons of CO₂ emissions avoided, and 521,259 liters of diesel saved. The company has also expanded to Rwanda, signing MOUs with three transport operators in Kigali and securing USD 1.5 million in funding from USAID to deploy air quality monitoring systems. In April 2024, it launched its first electric bus assembly line at the KVM plant in Thika, backed by a USD 3 million grant from CFAO, aiming to produce 1,000 buses within three years.
Over its growth journey, BasiGo has raised USD 930,000 in pre-seed funding in 2021, followed by USD 4.3 million in seed funding mid-2022, an additional USD 6.6 million in equity, and USD 5 million in debt financing from British International Investment (BII) by the end of 2023. In late 2024, it successfully closed a USD 24 million Series A equity round led by Africa50 and secured USD 17.5 million in debt from BII and the U.S. Development Finance Corporation (DFC). This funding has strengthened its ability to scale across East Africa, with a goal of deploying 1,000 buses in three years and reaching 5,000 buses by 2030.
Key takeaways from BasiGo’s journey offer valuable lessons for climate-tech startup founders. Firstly, a flexible business model paired with smart tech lowers adoption barriers. Usage-based financing combined with real-time fleet management enables faster onboarding and delivers measurable value. Secondly, pilot deployments in real-world conditions, rather than lab-based prototypes, are critical for validating the product through hard metrics like mileage, passenger count, and CO₂ reduction. Ecosystem building through partnerships with local assemblers, utility companies, governments, and international organizations is essential. Climate-tech businesses often require diverse resources and a collaborative network to thrive.
BasiGo demonstrates that transforming public transportation in Africa with electric buses is not only an environmental vision but also an economically viable strategy. Their success stems from appropriate technology, an innovative financial model, and strong partnerships—making them a compelling case study for climate-tech startups aiming to drive scalable, sustainable impact.
