Visit Wuling Factory In Cikarang, Moeldoko: The Government Is Committed To Developing Electric Cars, Even Though The Challenges Are Not Easy

Head of the Presidential Staff Office (KSP), Moeldoko while testing an electric car. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Head of the Presidential Staff Office (KSP), Moeldoko, said the government remains committed to developing the electric car industry including its various infrastructures, even though the challenges they face will not be easy.

"This radical change is indeed not easy. But most importantly, we see that the government has committed to electric cars", said Moeldoko in a written statement from KSP, quoted from Antara, Wednesday, August 25.

Moeldoko stated this when he visited the Wuling Motors Factory in the Greenland International Industrial Center (GIIC) area in Cikarang, West Java, on Tuesday, August 24.

According to him, Indonesia is getting closer to the development of the electric car industry. Currently, the infrastructure for domestic electric car production continues to be developed. In addition, a number of the world's automotive industries from Japan and China have also shown their seriousness to invest in the electric car industry in Indonesia.

However, said the former TNI Commander, the challenges faced by the electric car industry in Indonesia will not be easy. According to data from the Association of Indonesian Automotive Industries (Gaikindo), the realization of total electric car sales in Indonesia during the first half of 2021 reached 1,900 units. This figure is not much different from sales in the same period in 2020 which amounted to 1,234 units. In fact, the Indonesian market is quite large, when viewed from conventional car sales.

According to a survey by management consultant Solidiance, Moeldoko said, in 2018 three factors caused the low interest of the Indonesian people in electric cars. These factors are the limited cruising range of electric vehicles, the lack of Public Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (SPKLU), and the price of electric cars which tend to be more expensive than conventional cars.

The government, said Moeldoko, did not remain silent in responding to the problem. President Joko Widodo has signed Presidential Decree No. 55 of 2019 concerning the Acceleration of the Battery-Based Electric Motor Vehicle Program for Road Transportation. In March 2021, Moeldoko together with the Coordinating Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Investment had socialized the program for the use of electric cars in ministries and institutions through the Battery-Based Electric Motor Vehicle (KBL-BB) program.

Moeldoko has also emphasized the importance of shifting towards an electric car industry with renewable energy sources. Electric cars are a solution in reducing fossil fuel consumption and improving the quality of the environment and air. Moeldoko is optimistic that Indonesia will be able to increase opportunities to become a production and export base for KBL-BB.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Transportation has compiled a Roadmap for K/L Operational Vehicles and Public Transportation from ICE Vehicles (Internal Combustion Engine) to KBL BB.

The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources together with PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (Persero) or PLN were appointed to build supporting infrastructure in the form of SPKLU. As of April 2021, 112 SPKLU units have been built in 83 locations in Indonesia. In addition, PLN has also prepared various stimuli to increase market interest in using KBL-BB.