How to make transportation quieter, cleaner and cheaper | Doreen Orishaba - TED Talks Daily Recap

Podcast: TED Talks Daily

Published: 2026-03-16

Duration: 13 min

Guests: Doreen Orishaba

Summary

Doreen Orishaba discusses the strides made in electric mobility within Africa, focusing on the deployment of electric buses as a sustainable alternative to diesel, and the importance of local adaptation and renewable energy sources.

What Happened

Doreen Orishaba reflects on her journey in the electric vehicle industry, starting with the development of Africa's first electric car in 2011 at Makerere University. Despite initial skepticism, she highlights how Africa has emerged as a leader in electric mobility, particularly with electric buses becoming vital in urban transport.

She emphasizes that buses serve as the lifeline for over 60% of the population in African cities, underscoring the need for scalable clean transport solutions. Orishaba elaborates on the unique challenges faced, such as range anxiety and high upfront costs, but insists that overcoming these is crucial given the climate crisis.

Orishaba details her role as the Managing Director of Basigo Rwanda, where they offer electric buses as a cost-effective alternative to diesel. The company has successfully implemented a fleet of 77 buses across Kenya and Rwanda, impacting over 30,000 daily commuters.

Electricity in Kenya and Rwanda is predominantly renewable, making electric mobility not only cheaper but also cleaner. Orishaba stresses the importance of designing vehicles tailored to local needs, using real-life data to optimize battery capacities and other specifications.

Overcoming infrastructure challenges, Basigo constructs strategically located charging stations, ensuring efficient bus operations. This infrastructure is crucial for minimizing operator burdens and enhancing the adoption of electric buses.

Orishaba highlights their innovative 'Pay As You Drive' financing model, which alleviates the financial strain on operators. This model enables expansion without heavy initial investments, offering a viable path for scaling electric mobility.

She concludes by asserting Africa's potential to lead the global electric mobility movement, noting that the continent's renewable energy resources provide a significant advantage. With electric vehicles, Africa can mitigate substantial CO2 emissions, demonstrating a viable zero-carbon transport model.

Key Insights