As countries and corporate leaders make pledges to mitigate climate change during the course of COP26, innovators of climate-focused solutions are in search of funding to help them launch or expand their operations. Opibus is one such organization.
The firm has announced a $7.5 million funding which it secured to expand its operations in East Africa.
Founded in 2017, Opibus focuses on all-electric conversion kits for fleet vehicles such as light trucks, public transport, and buses, as well as electric motorcycles and energy systems. The startup is based in Sweden and Kenya, Nairobi.
[bctt tweet=”The funding is structured at $5 million in equity and $7.5 million in additional grants. This round was led by At One Ventures, a Silicon Valley fund, backed by Factor (e) Ventures, funds managed by former executives of Google and Uber, the driver-car app.” username=”climateactionaf”]
Armed with the new capital, Opibus hopes to begin the mass production of its electric vehicles in 2022. The company collects electric bikes that can replace conventional motorcycles, as well as completely electric off-road vehicles and buses that have been converted to entirely electric vehicles.
Ampersand, an American business based in Kigali, Rwanda, created integrable batteries for these electric motorcycles.
By providing charging and energy solutions, Opibus will contribute to the creation of a full environment that is friendly to electric mobility. The company’s goal, according to the firm, is to create a sustainable ecosystem for mass transportation in Africa.
Filip Gardler, CEO and co-founder of Opibus, stated that the company’s targets and goals may appear ambitious, but it is a mission that is more vital than ever. Opibus owe a duty to future generations as well as the entire planet.
The company now has customers in six African countries and wants to expand into new areas in the coming years. Because, according to Filip, Africa is one of the world’s fastest-growing transportation industries, with a potential worth $10 billion by 2030 that is yet mostly unexplored.
