Kenya's Roam, an electric vehicle (EV) startup, has introduced its latest shuttle bus model named "Move" in response to the growing demand for electric vehicles in the East African country. The Move bus launch is part of Kenya's efforts to promote sustainable transportation options amidst rising fuel prices and environmental concerns.

Formerly known as Opibus, Roam is now focusing on expanding its Move bus production and enhancing its charging infrastructure. This strategic move aligns with Kenya's commitment to accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles.

Roam has already received orders for 50 Move buses, with deliveries scheduled to begin in February of the coming year. At maximum production capacity, Roam anticipates producing 40 units per month. These 42-seater buses have a range of 200 kilometres and are assembled locally using components sourced from China. The price for each bus is set at $135,000, and the bus can also be customized to accommodate 52 passengers.

Roam takes pride in designing its buses to meet local requirements, including features like high ground clearance. Dennis Wakaba, Roam's Country Sales Executive, highlighted the advantages of local assembly, stating:

"Building the body locally also enhances our design offering; we can move the door, build more boot space, accommodate preferred window fittings, or add air conditioning, and so on."

READ ALSO - Edtech Platform AltSchool Africa Launches Innovative Creative Economy and Business Faculty

The launch of the Roam Move bus follows the company's 2021 announcement of its intention to diversify into EV buses alongside its existing motorcycle production business. Earlier in July, Roam also unveiled the Roam Rapid, designed to align with Kenya's planned Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, although this initiative has faced delays. BasiGo, one of Roam's competitors, has already deployed numerous EV buses on major routes in Kenya's capital, Nairobi.

Filip Lövström, CEO, Co-Founder, Roam

Founded in 2017 by Gardler, Filip Lövström, and Mikael Gånge, Roam initially focused on auto conversions before transitioning to electric vehicle production. Roam has gained significant expertise in-house, allowing for flexibility in bringing innovative products to the market.

The introduction of the Move bus coincides with Kenya's commitment to EV adoption, as the country has introduced incentives such as zero-rated supply of electric buses and bicycles and excise duty exemptions for imported and locally assembled motorcycles in the current finance act. Additionally, Kenya has implemented special power tariffs for charging EVs.

To further facilitate the transition to electric mobility, Kenya's energy authority recently published the Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging and Battery Swapping Infrastructure Guidelines 2023. These guidelines aim to expedite the establishment of public charging stations, addressing one of the key barriers to EV adoption in the region.

While Kenya is taking significant steps towards reducing its reliance on fossil fuel vehicles, the adoption of electric mobility in Africa as a whole still faces challenges. These challenges include weak electricity grids, limited charging infrastructure, and the substantial upfront costs associated with EV acquisition. However, with ongoing initiatives and innovations like Roam's Move bus, the future of electric mobility in Africa looks promising.