Electric vehicle manufacturer ROAM has unveiled its first mass transit electric bus targeting urban areas.
The bus, which comes with a 77-passenger sitting capacity, can cover up to 360 kilometres before recharging.
It targets public transport providers, schools, as well as private and Government institutions, providing them with an environmentally sustainable solution that is cheaper to maintain than fuel-run buses.
Speaking during the unveiling of the bus in Nairobi, Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) Managing Director Geoffrey Muli said that the firm is capable of supporting Kenya’s e-mobility eco-system with an installed capacity of 3077 megawatts (MW) and an off-peak load of 1100 MW.
“On its part, Kenya Power has set up an e-mobility liaison office to provide customers with a seamless experience. Through this office, we work with other stakeholders such as ROAM to support the development of the e-mobility ecosystem, which includes the identification of sites for potential charging stations, facilitation of connectivity and the testing of e-vehicles for potential investors,” Muli said.
Deployment of buses will initially be done within the Nairobi Metropolitan Area, which will later be scaled up to include other parts.
Along with the bus deployment, several charging points will be installed from Opibus’ already existing range of products.
ROAM’s Transit Board Member Denis Wakaba said the company will put up its own charging infrastructure to support the buses.
It will feature an online as well as cash payment system besides enhanced security features such as telematics, which is an integration of communication and information technology, enabling storage and transmission of information.
“We provided priority sitting for women, the elderly and children. We also have a wheelchair access ramp and its locking area,” ROAM’s Transit Board Member Denis Wakaba.
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