PLN And Grab Will Develop Electric Vehicle Infrastructure

Photo: Doc. Between

JAKARTA - PT PLN (Persero) and PT Grab Indonesia collaborated to develop infrastructure for public electric vehicle battery exchange stations (SPBKLU) to support the electric vehicle ecosystem in Indonesia. This collaboration is a real action by PLN and Grab in accelerating the ecosystem and integration of electric vehicle services in Indonesia.

The cooperation agreement is part of a series of PLN activities at the JIExpo Indonesia International Motor Show (IIMS), Kemayoran. General Manager of PLN UID Jakarta Raya, Doddy B. Pangaribuan revealed, later, PLN and Grab will provide SPBKLU for six cabinets in four locations in Jakarta. Two cabinets are at the PLN Main Distribution Unit (UID) for Greater Jakarta in Gambir, two at PLN Bulungan, and PLN Cempaka Putih and PLN Kramat Jati.

"We continue to run a number of partnerships, one of which is with Grab. This collaboration is a real action to support the electric vehicle roadmap that has been launched by the government," he said in a statement to the media, Friday, April 8.

Previously, the collaboration between Grab and PLN was also carried out in Bali for the placement of seven SPBKLU cabinets in seven locations. The provision of infrastructure through the SPBKLU is part of a joint commitment to support the government's efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emission targets according to the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) which is 29 percent unconditional (with own efforts) and 41 percent conditional (with adequate international support). in 2030.

So far, PLN UID Jakarta Raya has established 26 units of public electric vehicle charging stations (SPKLU) in 18 locations. Two of them are SPKLU with a partnership system. This year, PLN UID Jakarta Raya targets the operation of seven more SPKLUs.

As for the General Electric Vehicle Battery Exchange Station (SPBKLU) PLN already has 6 units spread throughout the Jakarta area. In the future, PLN will continue to improve this infrastructure to be able to encourage massive electric vehicles in Indonesia.

"We have built SPKLU and SPBKLU which want to facilitate charging electricity outside the home. Even though it is 85 percent charging at home. Here we really need to support infrastructure for charging and exchanging batteries like today to increase public confidence in using electric vehicles," said Doddy.

Doddy explained that PLN opened up opportunities for the private sector to establish partnerships in providing SPKLU and SPBKLU.

"We open opportunities for cooperation in providing SPKLU and SPBKLU, we support the electric vehicle ecosystem and partnership with a cooperation pattern. We hope this is a model and example of cooperation that can be developed in the future," added Doddy.

According to Doddy, the addition and expansion of the operation of the SPKLU must be carried out so that electric vehicle drivers do not have to worry about their vehicle batteries running out of electrical energy when traveling long distances using electric vehicles.

Director of PT Bicycles for Indonesia, part of Grab Indonesia, Iki Sari Dewi, said that the collaboration between the government and the private sector is one of the keys to accelerating technology transfer towards an electric-based vehicle ecosystem in Indonesia. In the long term, cooperation and technology transfer will have a positive impact.

"We are targeting to present a total of 14,000 electric vehicle fleets by the end of this year to encourage the development of the country's electric vehicle ecosystem," he said.

Since launching its first electric vehicle fleet in 2019, Grab has now operated more than 8,500 electric vehicles, with a dominance of two-wheeled vehicles. With that amount, CO2 emission reductions reached 4,600 tons, equivalent to planting 260,000 trees.

Not only does it have a positive impact on the environment, the presence of an electric fleet also opens up new opportunities for driver-partners. Grab operates a fleet of electric vehicles on a rental scheme. That is, Grab buys electric motorbikes from manufacturers, then rents them out per day. Thus, driver-partners can save money because the maintenance of the motorbike is borne by Grab.