STORY: China-made electric buses gain popularity in Rwanda
SHOOTING TIME: March 23, 2024
DATELINE: March 28, 2024
LENGTH: 00:01:40
LOCATION: Kigali
CATEGORY: SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the electric buses
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): DOREEN ORISHABA, Managing Director of BasiGo Rwanda
3. various of the electric buses
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Kinyarwanda): INNOCENT UMUHOZA, Driver with BasiGo
5. SOUNDBITE 3 (Kinyarwanda): FRANK NKOTAMYI, Electric bus passenger

STORYLINE:

China-made electric buses have renewed public transportation in the Rwandan capital of Kigali, winning the hearts of local residents with their eco-friendly and convenient riding experience.

BasiGo, a Kenya-based company importing electric buses from China, has worked with three public transport company operators in Rwanda.

Benefiting from the increasing popularity of these electric buses in Rwanda, BasiGo has witnessed a surge in orders since it started a pilot service roughly three months ago.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): DOREEN ORISHABA, Managing Director of BasiGo Rwanda
"The pilot has really been successful. We had targeted to run it for three months and in these short three months, the bus operators have already seen the advantages of going green. We already have reservations for 132 units. That's a number we have today and I'm sure it's going to keep growing."
   
The company aims to deliver 100 buses in the next 12 months on the streets of Kigali, and 200 buses in the next two years.
  
SOUNDBITE 2 (Kinyarwanda): INNOCENT UMUHOZA, Driver with BasiGo
"We used to face challenges of lack of diesel. The diesel-powered engines easily break down. The consumption costs of electric buses are low." 
SOUNDBITE 3 (Kinyarwanda): FRANK NKOTAMYI, Electric bus passenger
"The old gasoline-powered buses produced harmful exhausts, which can affect the health of passengers inside and outside. These new electric buses are environmentally friendly, equipped with a good interior design, and have internet and mobile phone charging ports."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Kigali.
(XHTV)