Roam Motors (formerly Opibus), on August 24, 2022, announced the launch of its newest electric mass transit bus, the bus named Roam Rapid which is specially designed to address the challenges of public transportation in Kenya and Africa.
Roam Rapid is the first bus in Kenya designed for mass transit. With a capacity of 90 passengers, this bus provides ample space, passengers get on and off efficiently, and there are seating and standing areas for passengers.
In addition, the bus with a total weight of 18 tons provides priority seats for the elderly and people with disabilities, more leg room, a special area for wheelchairs, and a door with a low floor for easy access in and out of the bus.
Launching the official Roam Motors website, they claim this bus has a wider range and allows operators to run their buses for a full day without worrying about costs. This bus is equipped with a 384 kWh battery with a range of 360 km.
This blue majority bus also has the ability to fully charge the battery in less than 2 hours via DC charging. Gives operators full flexibility to decide on their charging and operating schedule, whether it’s a full charge at night or a short charge during the day to recharge the battery.
Project Coordinator, Roam Motors, Dennis Wakaba said, the focus of this electric bus is to design a tough vehicle with best-in-class carrying capacity, range and comfort. Through strong local partners and localization plans, the buses will be assembled locally.
“A strong local presence will facilitate after-sales service and provide many jobs, helping to cope with the rising unemployment rate. The solutions that Roam brings to the Kenyan market allow us to move people safely, comfortably and on time and in an affordable way,” he said.
These buses, Dennis continued, are designed not only to improve comfort and lower costs but, more importantly, focus on the well-being of residents through reducing noise pollution and eliminating exhaust emissions and improving air quality for cities across Africa.
