IZI Launches Africa’s First Electric Coaster
IZI Electric has unveiled the Impala E30, a purpose-built 30-seat electric coach that sets a new benchmark for electric public transport in Africa
IZI Electric has unveiled the Impala E30, a purpose-built 30-seat electric coach that sets a new benchmark for electric public transport in Africa.
Engineered specifically for African operating conditions, the Impala E30 is the first commercial vehicle on the continent to feature CATL’s BC5 battery system, backed by an unprecedented 10-year/1-million-kilometer warranty.
Speaking on this launch, Alex Wilson, the CEO of IZI Electric, spoke highly of the warranty calling it ‘the breakthrough the market has been waiting for’.
“Until now, electric bus manufacturers have typically offered an average 4-year or 400,000-kilometer warranties, creating significant anxiety about long-term battery performance and limiting financing options. Our 10-year warranty fundamentally changes this dynamic, giving both operators and financial institutions the confidence to invest in cleaner, more economical transport,” Wilson remarked.
The Impala E30 will join IZI’s leasing fleet in June, with initial deployment focused on intercity routes exceeding 400 kilometres per day. With over 50 units already ordered, IZI is rapidly scaling operations in Rwanda.
The newly launched electric coach has been strategically positioned as a direct replacement for the Coaster, one of the widely used vehicles across Africa. Coasters currently serve as the backbone of both urban and intercity transport systems throughout the continent – from airport shuttles in Nairobi and staff transportation for mining companies in Zambia to intercity services in Ethiopia and school buses in Rwanda.
“If we replaced just half of Africa’s existing diesel coaster fleet with the Impala E30, the continent would save over $1 billion in fuel costs every year and reduce carbon emissions by more than 2.7 million tonnes a year” Wilson noted. “The economic and environmental impact would be extraordinary.”
Africa’s abundant renewable energy resources further strengthen the case for transport electrification, with countries like Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda already generating over 80% of their electricity from renewable sources. This creates a uniquely favorable environment for electric vehicles that’s often more advantageous than in Europe or North America.
