The mobility solutions platform IZI Rwanda has just taken delivery of five electric buses. They will be put into circulation in the city of Kigali following a pilot phase with public transport operators.
Kigali’s population has grown from 800,000 in 2013 to 1.2 million in 2024, but the number of public transport vehicles has not kept pace with this demographic change. This is the observation made by the IZI Rwanda platform, which recently announced the delivery of five electric buses. According to the fleet manager, these environmentally-friendly vehicles will be put into circulation in the Rwandan capital after a test phase with local operators such as Kigali Bus Services (KBS).
In addition to easing urban congestion, this initiative addresses the 13% of greenhouse gas emissions generated by the combustion of fossil fuels in this East African country, which aims to electrify 20% of its public transport network by 2030. According to IZI Rwanda, this is an original response “to the rising cost of diesel and the cap on passenger fares”.
However, not all drivers of combustion-powered buses are keen to make the transition to electric vehicles, citing the very high purchase price and the lack of recharging and maintenance infrastructure. Alex Wilson’s company seems to have found the solution.
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“For a small fee per kilometre, bus operators can take advantage of the pay-as-you-use service and have access to a fully electric vehicle, the necessary recharging infrastructure, full vehicle maintenance and training. With no upfront costs, transport service providers can also achieve an average saving of 40% on operating costs, transforming their profitability and enabling them to meet the needs associated with population growth in urban areas,” says IZI Rwanda.
Benoit-Ivan Wansi
