One of the Kayoola electric buses parked near the City Square in Kampala. Uganda’s nascent car maker, Kiira Motors Corporation, has launched a new prototype, an electric powered bus, causing excitement among Ugandans about the future of mass transport especially in the capital Kampala.
This is the fourth car prototype to be produced by the Ugandan startup which began from the Makerere University College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT).
The others are; the Kiira EV which is Africa’s first electric vehicle, the Sedan (Kiira EV SMACK) which is the first electric hybrid vehicle to be designed and built in Africa, and the Kayoola which is Africa’s first solar powered bus.
The company says the Kayoola EVS Electric Buses are designed to provide select shuttle services including airport transfer.
The two buses made a drive in Kampala city on Friday, leaving onlookers stunned.
The Kayoola EVS Bus has on-board Wi-Fi to ensure the travelers stay connected, USB charging ports to enable charging of traveler’s devices and display boards for timely and accurate information dissemination.
Related: Kiira Motors’ Sedan Undergoes Road Test, Mwenda Makes Case for Commercial Viability
It has an operating cost per KM of Shs 320 as compared to a Diesel Bus Equivalent with Cost per kilometer of Shs 1,670 implying better energy efficiency on the backdrop of enhanced environmental stewardship. https://www.softpower.ug/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/vh-I8YaBp9CXGPzU.mp4 The battery life of the Kayoola EVS electric bus is up to 3,000 Charge cycles (900,000km) compared to 200,000 km of typical diesel engines.
The floor of the Kayoola EVS is made out of Bamboo, the interior mainly plastics and aluminum with a steel superstructure and body panels, largely sourced locally.
“These provide an unprecedented opportunity for participation of a wide range of local manufacturers making components to feed the production line at the Kiira Vehicle Plant addressing the key aspects of Supply Chain Localization and engendering Import Substitution,” the company said.
Kiira Motors says it is already taking orders for buses and immediate need can be address by KMC working with Luweero Industries Limited to produce 8 buses per month before the operationalization of the Kiira Vehicle Plant in Jinja.Ugandans on social media were upbeat about the development, many saying it is a great stride towards government’s local content policy of Buy Uganda Build Uganda (BUBU).A few years ago, government approved the establishment of the Kiira Vehicle Plant, to enable mass production of cars at a commercial scale. https://www.softpower.ug/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/5AcqcUsiuXH2pLQh.mp4 Kiira Motors Corporation and […]
