Opibus: The First Electric Bus from Africa

The Swedish-Kenyan vehicle manufacturer Opibus has unveiled the first electric bus developed in Africa. It is expected to be available for the pan-African market by the end of 2023, implemented by local manufacturing partners. The key to this technology is the modular electric vehicle platform developed by Opibus, which can serve as the foundation for various vehicle types. The new model is supposed to be significantly more cost-effective than importing electric buses. Opibus anticipates a drop in total operating costs by about 50% compared to a diesel counterpart, due to significantly lower maintenance costs and relatively low electricity expenditures.

The first vehicle is scheduled to hit the market in the middle of this year. Subsequently, the platform will be tested on a larger scale in commercial operations with ten buses in the second half of 2022. In this way, we ensure that we collect valuable feedback to further develop the product and optimally adapt it to the market. It is a great feeling to be a pioneer in this very exciting field. (Dennis Wakaba, Public Transport Project Coordinator at Opibus)

Launch in Nairobi

The buses will initially be deployed in the suburban areas of the metropolis Nairobi – paired with a business model that enables operators to save from day one. Alongside the deployment of the vehicles, several charging stations from Opibus's existing product range will be installed. These are likely to be CCS chargers with both AC and DC charging capabilities. With the fast charger, the electric bus can be fully charged within an hour, allowing for smooth operation.