TED Talks Daily How to make transportation quieter, cleaner and cheaper | Doreen Orishaba
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Mar 16, 2026 
Doreen Orishaba, a clean mobility leader at BasiGo Rwanda who helped build some of Africa’s first EV prototypes, explores the push to scale electric buses in Kenya and Rwanda. She gets into why buses are the smart starting point, how local assembly and route-specific design matter, and how charging, maintenance and pay-as-you-drive models can make cleaner transit more affordable.
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Building Africa’s First EVs Before Anyone Believed
- Doreen Orishaba joined Kiira Motors at Makerere and helped build Africa’s first electric car, plug-in hybrid, and solar electric bus prototype.
- In 2011, many people dismissed EVs as Western toys, but her team insisted Africa should help shape electric mobility, not just import it.
Why Electric Buses Matter More In African Cities
- Electric buses matter in Africa because buses move over 60 percent of city residents and private operators run much of public transport.
- The usual barriers—range anxiety, high upfront cost, and weak charging networks—are old problems, but climate pressure makes delay far costlier now.
Renewable Power Makes EV Buses Cheaper Than Diesel
- BasiGo claims electric buses can beat diesel on cost in Kenya and Rwanda because electricity is local, renewable, and more price-stable.
- Diesel is imported, while power from sources like hydro and wind makes electric transport both cheaper to run and cleaner.