In Kenya, the company Opibus is embarking on non-polluting public transport by installing electric motors in buses. The company is finalizing the modification of the first all-electric 52-passenger vehicle, which is expected to enter service by December and be capable of traveling 250 kilometers per charge.
“For a public transportation (matatu) driver, the price of fuel is very high and you can’t make enough profit because you spend a lot of money on fuel,” says George Moses, a public transportation driver. “Comparing it to the future electric bus, we’ll make more money, and even the owner of the bus will make a lot of money.”
But going electric comes at a cost and is not available to everyone. It costs $45,000 to own an Opibus engine, compared to $30,000 for a used gasoline or diesel bus imported from abroad. Several parts made in Europe must also be installed, adding considerably to the cost. But that doesn’t detract from the popularity of electric vehicles.
“Not only do they offer the possibility of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but they also allow us to become fuel independent,” details Filip Lovstrom, founder of Opibus. “We don’t have to look at the cost of fuel every morning when we wake up, but we can actually drive vehicles that reduce our operating costs.”
As climate change weighs on the planet, carbon emissions from vehicles remain one of the biggest issues.
“The transport system in Kenya, for example Nairobi’s, is blamed for most of the pollution,” continues Pamela Okutoyi, founder of the Eco-Mindset Foundation. “I think it’s great that Opibus has introduced an electric bus. And I hope it will speed up the transition.”
Africa’s largest electric vehicle manufacturing company Opibus has announced it will mass produce more than 20,000 buses to cover the continental market by 2023.
