EV conversion startup Opibus raises $7.5M to start bus and motorcycle mass production – TechCrunch

Opibus, the primary firm in Kenya to commercially future-proof diesel and gasoline automobiles by changing them to electrical, is about to embark on an formidable plan to mass produce electrical buses and bikes after unlocking $7.5 million in pre collection A spherical.

The Swedish-Kenyan firm raised $5 million in fairness and $2.5 million in grants in a spherical led by Silicon Valley fund At One Ventures,  backed by Issue[e] Ventures and pan-African VC agency Ambo Ventures. The spherical is the corporate’s first main fundraise, having beforehand raised capital from angel buyers.

Opibus advised TechCrunch that it’s trying to ship its first electrical bus by the primary quarter of subsequent yr.

“We’re proud to be backed by globally acknowledged buyers offering a stability between deep-tech and rising market experience. We’ve collectively reached a transparent strategic and visionary alignment, with the conviction that mass manufacturing of electrical mobility options in Africa won’t solely make the merchandise extra accessible and inexpensive, but in addition result in one of many largest industrialization and welfare transitions of the area in fashionable time,” stated Opibus’ CEO and co-founder, Filip Gardler.

Based in 2017 by Gardler, Filip Lövström and Mikael Gånge, Opibus has through the years specialised in auto conversions, and is now transferring to full electrical automobile manufacturing, beginning with bikes and public industrial automobiles, all whereas creating charging and power options.  

“The targets and goals we’ve set for Opibus might sound daring, nonetheless it’s a mission that has turn into extra necessary than ever. We’ve a accountability to the approaching generations and the earth [as a] complete,” stated Gardler. 

Already, the corporate has began taking pre-orders of its electric motorcycles, whereas confirming to TechCrunch that the demand is promising. Opibus bikes will begin at $1,300 relying on a number of options together with battery capability. The corporate stated the aggressive benefit of its product consists of declining operational prices of as much as 60% decrease that of fossil gasoline options.

Going ahead, the corporate plans to maneuver to an even bigger plant because it prepares to extend its manufacturing to serve all the African continent.

“We’re about giving automobiles a second life however for bikes we see that we gained’t be capable of scale quick sufficient if we’re changing bikes. And since we wish to design a product that’s higher than what’s already available in the market, we’re constructing our bikes from the bottom up – by designing and manufacturing them in-house,” Opibus’ chief technique and advertising officer Albin Wilson advised TechCrunch.

Along with Kenya, the corporate’s different purchasers are unfold out in Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo and South Africa. 

A swap to electrical energy provides nations in sub-Saharan Africa a variety of features together with a lowered value of transport and decrease carbon emissions. International locations like South Africa, Mauritius and Rwanda are already forward of the sport. South Africa has drafted a roadmap for the elevated manufacturing and adoption of absolutely electrical automobiles, whereas Rwanda rolled-out incentives that may make it less expensive to purchase and function them.

“The electrical mobility area in Africa represents an enormous alternative; not solely to offer a greater service at a decrease value to clients, but in addition to scale back carbon emissions and keep away from lethal publicity to particulate air pollution on an area degree,” stated Issue[e] Ventures managing accomplice, Morgan DeFoort.

Stories present that electric mobility in Africa is nascent however alternatives stay huge, particularly if the infrastructure to assist its adoption is constructed. Challenges going through the trade embody the preliminary excessive value of electrical automobiles, a scarcity of charging infrastructure, low grid energy connectivity, taxation and low degree of consciousness about EVs.

With insufficient infrastructure being among the many greatest setbacks in EV adoption, Opibus has began putting in communal charging infrastructure to serve public transport suppliers. The corporate plans to put in the charging hubs in main cities close to the nation’s capital metropolis, Nairobi, because it builds out a community that may maintain the mass transport electrical buses deliberate for launch subsequent yr. Opibus additionally plans to forge partnerships with mini grid corporations to make sure that its motorbike clients in rural areas have entry to charging factors.

The corporate sees nice potential for electrical automobiles on the continent as the worth of things just like the photo voltaic batteries cut back considerably. It has to this point transformed 170 automobiles to serve totally different clientele together with mining corporations and tour companies. Its SUV conversions attain a most pace of fifty miles per hour, and an off-road driving vary of simply over 60 mph. 

 For its conversions, Opibus replaces diesel and gasoline engines with electrical motors and controllers, served by battery packs which are fitted with minimal modifications on the chassis.