Updated 13 November 2026
A BasiGo electric bus is a battery-powered matatu or bus that Kenyan operators get from BasiGo through a lease called Pay-As-You-Drive (PAYD): a deposit lower than for a diesel bus, then a fee per kilometre driven that covers charging, maintenance, insurance and roadside help. BasiGo’s main Kenyan models are the KL-9 bus, with a 400 km daily range, and the Ma3e electric van, built in Kenya for 16 or 19 seated passengers. Its website showed 114 buses in operation and more than 7 million electric kilometres driven on 13 November 2026. This guide explains the models, the lease and the charging network.
Updated 13 November 2026. Details come from BasiGo’s pricing page, its Pay-As-You-Drive, Kenya, KL-9, Ma3e and charging pages, checked on 13 November 2026. BasiGo does not publish its deposit or per-km fee.
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BasiGo at a glance
| Item | Detail (BasiGo website, 13 Nov 2026) |
|---|---|
| What it does | Electric buses, Pay-As-You-Drive financing, charging and service |
| Markets | Kenya and Rwanda |
| Buses in operation | 114 |
| Electric km driven | 7,045,452 |
| Passengers carried | 9,675,042 |
| Diesel avoided | 1,437,591 litres |
| CO2 avoided | 3,198 tonnes |
| Uptime guarantee | 90% per month under PAYD |
BasiGo pitches its buses as “designed for Kenya, built in Kenya”, running on a power grid it describes as about 90% renewable. Recent recognition listed on its site includes chief executive Jit Bhattacharya being named to the TIME100 Climate 2026 list (10 November 2026) and the company appearing on MIT Technology Review’s 2026 climate tech companies to watch (6 October 2026).
BasiGo electric bus models
| Model | Type | Range and charging | Battery |
|---|---|---|---|
| KL-9 | City bus designed by Kinglong, built in Kenya | 400 km daily range; recharge in under 2 hours | 176 kWh CATL, 10-year / 1 million km warranty |
| Ma3e | Electric matatu van, 16 or 19 seated passengers, assembled in Kenya | Up to 300 km per charge, 500 km daily operation; 1.5-hour recharge | CATL lithium iron phosphate, 8-year / 400,000 km warranty |
| i8 Intercity Coach | Long-distance coach for Rwanda routes | Up to 350 km per charge; 1.5-hour recharge on 200 kW chargers | CATL, 10-year / 1 million km warranty |
The KL-9 is the full-size BasiGo electric bus for Nairobi routes. BasiGo says it is the official CATL service partner, so battery after-sales support is handled locally. Operators can track each KL-9 in real time through BasiGo’s PAYD software.
The Ma3e is BasiGo’s electric take on the matatu van. It comes with Wi-Fi, USB charging, CCTV, seatbelts and roll bars, and BasiGo says it shares many parts with current matatus, so it can be repaired quickly anywhere in Kenya.
How pay-as-you-drive works
BasiGo offers two Pay-As-You-Drive options:
- Full electric bus lease: lease the whole bus for a low security deposit and a Pay-As-You-Drive fee.
- Battery lease: buy the e-bus without the battery, for a price BasiGo says is similar to a diesel bus, and lease only the battery for a Pay-As-You-Drive fee.
In both cases, the fee is based on kilometres driven, so an owner pays only when the bus is working. BasiGo lists what the fee includes:
- Free charging at BasiGo depots, including the cost of power.
- Nightly inspection and cleaning.
- Free scheduled maintenance at 15,000 km intervals.
- Roadside assistance.
- Comprehensive vehicle insurance.
- Bus monitoring and analytics through the PAYD platform.
- A 90% uptime guarantee each month.
BasiGo claims owners of a BasiGo electric bus can break even on their deposit in less than 12 months. It does not publish the deposit or the per-km rate, so ask for a written quote and compare it with a diesel bus loan from a bank or Sacco. Our guide to asset finance versus leasing in Kenya explains the difference between owning on credit and leasing.
BasiGo electric bus charging and service
BasiGo says it runs Kenya’s first DC fast-charge network for electric buses. The depots sit along bus routes, with dedicated Kenya Power connections so outages do not stop operations, and CCS-2 chargers that recharge a bus in about 2 hours. The same chargers can quick-charge compatible private cars and trucks, and BasiGo invites drivers to sign up to use them. Landowners can also apply to host a charging site.
Service is done at night while buses charge, with a parts warehouse and trained staff. For the cost of power if you charge a private EV yourself, see our guide to the EV charging tariff in Kenya.
Is a BasiGo electric bus worth it?
The case for a BasiGo electric bus rests on three things BasiGo highlights: no diesel bill, no separate service bill, and payment linked to distance. Diesel owners, BasiGo argues, take on a big down-payment and years of loan repayments, and carry the risk of fuel price and interest rate rises. Under PAYD, the main risks shift to BasiGo, which keeps the bus charged and serviced.
Points to check before signing:
- The per-km fee against your route’s daily mileage and fare income.
- Whether a charging depot sits on or near your route.
- What happens if the bus is off the road for more than the 10% downtime allowed under the uptime guarantee.
- Lease length, early-exit terms and who owns the bus or battery at the end.
Electric two-wheelers follow a similar battery-swap and lease logic; see the Spiro electric boda boda programme and boda boda loans in Kenya. For private cars, read our guide to electric cars in Kenya.
How to get or hire one
- Operators: contact BasiGo through its website to reserve a Ma3e or ask about a KL-9 lease.
- Private hire: BasiGo offers its electric buses for hire. Enquiries go to valueaddservices@basi-go.com or 0718 966591.
- Passengers: BasiGo buses run with partner bus operators; its site has a live map showing where the buses are.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a BasiGo electric bus cost?
BasiGo does not publish a price. It leases buses for a security deposit plus a per-km Pay-As-You-Drive fee, or sells the bus without the battery for a price it says is similar to a diesel bus, with the battery leased.
How far can a BasiGo electric bus go on one charge?
BasiGo quotes a 400 km daily range for the KL-9 and up to 300 km per charge for the Ma3e van.
How long does it take to charge a BasiGo bus?
Under 2 hours for the KL-9 and about 1.5 hours for the Ma3e, at BasiGo’s DC fast-charging depots.
What does the BasiGo pay-as-you-drive fee include?
Charging, nightly inspection and cleaning, maintenance every 15,000 km, roadside assistance, comprehensive insurance, monitoring software and a 90% monthly uptime guarantee.
Can private cars charge at BasiGo stations?
Yes. BasiGo says its CCS-2 chargers can quick-charge compatible passenger cars and trucks, and drivers can sign up on its website.
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