Swedish Electric Vehicle Manufacturer ROAM Launches Kenya's First Electric Public Transport Bus

ROAM Rapid, Kenya's first public transport bus (photo: ROAM)

JAKARTA - The company that develops, designs and deploys electric vehicles, ROAM announced on Wednesday, August 24 that it is launching a new electric public transport bus called ROAM Rapid.

Rapid is specifically designed to address the challenges of public transport in Nairobi and Africa as a whole. This ROAM electric bus is the first public transport bus in Kenya.

"Roam Rapid is the first bus in Kenya designed for mass transit. With a capacity of 90 passengers, this bus provides ample space, efficient boarding and disembarking of passengers with seating and standing areas," the company said in a statement.

New, the Roam Rapid! It's a fully electric mass transit bus and we couldn't be more excited to officially launch it today.This bus ensures reliability and accessibility to large-scale transit systems across the African continent.​More info: https://t .co/f0cd7bSJPB pic.twitter.com/QjMmB1jV7s

— Roam (@roammotors) August 24, 2022

Like buses in general, Rapid also provides priority seats for the elderly and passengers with disabilities. The Rapid priority seats have ample legroom for wheelchairs, and a low-floor entrance for easy access.

"Roam aspires to create a new perception of public transport vehicles by providing mobility solutions that are inclusive, modern, efficient and sustainable," explained ROAM.

In addition, the ROAM Rapid also has zero exhaust emissions and low noise pollution, paving the way for the public transport system in Africa.

This electric vehicle is equipped with a 384-kWh battery that allows it to cover a distance of 360 km. The Rapid also has the ability to fully charge in under 2 hours via the DC charging port.

According to the company, these charging speeds will give operators full flexibility to decide on their charging and operating schedules.

"The focus of the bus is on designing robust vehicles with best-in-class carrying capacity, range and comfort to enable mass adoption of clean transport across continents." he added.

According to ROAM, with this electric bus, operating costs can be reduced by up to 50% and after-sales convenience reduces downtime, enabling higher margins for operators but also lowering costs for commuters, setting a new standard for transport on the African continent.