Roam’s new shuttle EV bus model Move continues to push for the adoption of electric vehicles in Kenya.
Kenya-based EV startup Roam (former Opibus) has introduced Move – an EV shuttle bus aimed at promoting sustainable transport options in Kenya against the backdrop of a surge in fuel prices.
The company anticipates a growth in EV bus demand amidst Kenya’s acceleration of eco-friendly transportation adoption. Therefore, Roam plans to deliver 50 Move buses by February 2024, and further produce 40 units a month at full production capacity.
The EV buses can transfer between 42 and 52 passengers within a distance of 200 kilometers. Roam electric buses can be charged through solar systems or directly from the grid. The company claims the model has minimal servicing requirements, maximizing its uptime and efficiency.
The new vehicles are assembled locally with parts sourced from China. According to Roam’s country sales executive, Dennis Wakaba, this enhances Move’s design offering. Wakaba explains: “we can move the door, build more boot space, accommodate preferred window fittings, or add air conditioning.” Therefore, all of the bus features are specifically designed to meet the unique demands of transportation on the African continent. The estimated cost of the Move model is $135,000.
According to the company’s website, the Move’s benefits include immediate cost reduction, uncompromising performance, abscense of carbon emissions or noise pollution. For the passengers, these buses ensure a seamless and pleasurable riding experience with all modern comforts.
Solutions like Move are crucial for the country where a majority of urban Kenyans walk or use public transport as their main commute modes. Traffic conjestion and transport-related poluttion are among the most pressing problems of the Kenyan capital Nairobi.
In 2022, Kenya introduced the concept of bus rapid transit (BRT) system that was supposed to deliver fast, comfortable, and cost-effective service at metro-level capacities. Later the same year, it appeared that the completion of the Nairobi BRT system faced funding difficulties. The project was stalled. Only in May 2023, local media reported that Kenyan government was going to revive BRT.
The creation of sustainable public transportation means such as Roam’s Move is a brilliant example of a technological revolution that has occured in the automotive industry over the past decade. You might also be interested in the Top 12 Latest Car Technology Innovations of The Past Decade.
