A Subsidiary Of The Bakrie Family Conglomerate Collaborates With UNS To Build An Electric Vehicle Battery Development Center

JAKARTA - A subsidiary of PT Bakrie & Brothers Tbk (BNBR) which is engaged in manufacturing electrification of transportation and telematics ecosystems, PT VKTR Mobilitas Technology (VKTR), is again conducting strategic collaborations with educational institutions.

After previously with PENS, now VKTR signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Sebelas Maret University (UNS) Surakarta. The signing was carried out by the President Director of PT VKTR Mobility Technology, Gilarsi W Setijono and the Chair of the Center for Excellence in Higher Education Science and Technology (PUI-PT) UNS Electrical Energy Storage Technology, Prof. Agus Purwanto, in Surakarta, Central Java, Thursday 2 June.

Gilarsi said the signing of the MoU was carried out to support the construction of research laboratories and the development of battery technology in the transportation sector in a long-term and sustainable manner. The construction of this laboratory aims to innovate in the development of electric vehicle battery technology and become a testing center for electric batteries both to enrich domestic science and technology or commercial needs.

"As the main component of electric vehicles, the existing battery technology still has many limitations, so it is still very open to be studied and developed. Based on that thought, we are planning to carry out this strategic cooperation plan with UNS," said Gilarsi in an official statement, quoted by Antara. Friday June 3rd.

Furthermore, Gilarsi said, the current limitations of battery technology are in two aspects, namely the performance aspect or battery performance, and the aspect of the price of raw materials or battery material which is still very expensive. If these two things can be overcome, then efforts to develop battery technology will be even more advanced.

In looking at battery performance, he explained, there are two crucial things. Namely the ability of the battery to deliver energy, and the amount of energy that can be stored by the battery.

In addition, the battery must also be safe, durable, fast in charging, environmentally friendly and can be made at a relatively low cost.

"A myriad of challenges in the future are waiting for us to solve together, considering the development of battery technology will increase rapidly," he said.

Gilarsi also explained that Indonesia's position in the electric vehicle battery production chain is very strategic. This is because Indonesia is currently listed as a country with the largest nickel reserves, reaching 52 percent of the world's total nickel reserves.

This research laboratory will be open and provide opportunities for anyone who wants to join, including alumni and UNS students who have competence in their fields.

The chairman of PUI-PT UNS Electrical Energy Storage Technology, Prof. Agus Purwanto, said that his party welcomes the collaboration plan of the two institutions. This strategic collaboration between UNS and VKTR is one of the efforts to always build a culture of innovation on the UNS campus. Furthermore, UNS will prepare the construction of an innovation lab and will manage it for mutual progress.

"This collaboration is a continuous effort to build a culture of innovation on the UNS campus. In particular, this collaboration with PT VKTR is a good first step to create an ecosystem that supports each other to develop transportation electrification in Indonesia in the long term and sustainably by universities and industry," said Agus.