Electric Car Prototype Named Arjuna Gets Support From IMI

Chairman of IMI Bambang Soesatyo (right five) with the Supermileage Vehicle Team from the University of Indonesia, Jakarta. (ANTARA/HO-IMI)

JAKARTA - The Supermileage Vehicle Team from the University of Indonesia (UI) succeeded in making a prototype electric car called Arjuna. Arjuna's weight is very light because the body material is made of carbon fiber. Arjuna is able to go up to a distance of 194.19 kilometers per kilo watt hour (km/kWh).

The result of the creativity of the nation's children is again fighting with participants from other countries, in the Shell Eco Marathon 2024 competition at the Mandalika Circuit on July 2-7.

The team was filled by Yusuf Timothy Turnip, Marsya Renatha Bahasoean, Haydar Mahdi, Godwin Siringoringo,ria Christian Marsanggap, Abdullah Iman Ramadhan, Taqiya Shauqiya, and Fathia.

The Indonesian Motor Association (IMI) supports the development of electric vehicles by students in Indonesia.

IMI Chairman Bambang Soesatyo (Bamsoet) said that he supports the team for the advancement of the electric-based automotive sports industry going forward.

"The Arjuna electric car from the UI Faculty of Engineering has succeeded in making brilliant achievements in various international competitions. Among them, winning the first winner of the 2022 Asian Provision Shell Eco competition at the Mandalika Circuit for the electric urban concept class by traveling 194 km/kWh," said Bamsoet on IMI's official website, reported by ANTARA, Saturday, March 30, after receiving a team visit at his office.

He explained, in the second year in the same event and class, Arjuna was again able to enter the top three by ranking second through the achievement of electricity consumption of 172 km/kWh.

He further explained that Shell Eco Marathon is a competition that challenges university students in various countries in the world to innovate in designing, building, as well as testing energy-efficient vehicles in order to answer energy challenges in the future.

Every year, teams from dozens of countries participate in the international competition.

According to him, Indonesia is the main competitor because it has bright prospects for the development of electric vehicles in the future

"Moreover, Indonesia is the largest nickel producing country in the world so that it fully supports the development of the electric vehicle industry. In particular, in making electric vehicle batteries," said the man who is also the Chairman of the MPR RI.

Bamsoet explained, based on US Geological Survey data, it is estimated that Indonesia's nickel reserves will reach 21 million metric tons and 40 percent of them are in Indonesia spread across Central Sulawesi, Southeast Sulawesi and North Maluku.

Meanwhile, referring to the records of the United States Geological Survey Agency (USGS), world nickel production in 2022 is estimated to reach 3.3 million metric tons, an increase of about 21 percent from production in 2021.

Of this figure, 48 percent or about 1.6 million metric tons are Indonesian production.

He is optimistic that Indonesia will become one of the main players in producing electric vehicles, considering that batteries are a key component for vehicles of that type and contribute about 25-40 percent of the price of electric vehicles.

With this fact, continued Bamsoet, Indonesia has the potential to become the main axis for the development of electric-based sports and automotive industries in the world.