Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology-INKA Targets Making 9 Electric Buses

ILLUSTRA TION / DOC VOI

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology (Kemendikbudristek) and PT INKA are targeting the manufacture of nine Merah Putih Electric Buses (BLMP) to be used at the G20 Summit at the end of 2022.

"We are targeting that the nine BLMPs can be used at the G20 Summit. This manufacturing process involves universities and PT INKA", said the Head of BLMP Acceleration, Edi Winarno, on the sidelines of the signing of the cooperation for the development of electric vehicles, reported by Antara on Tuesday, March 1.

The cooperation to develop the electric bus involves Gadjah Mada University, Ten November Institute of Technology (ITS), Airlangga University, and ISI Denpasar. These collaborations include the manufacture of electric bus components starting from the Smart Main Indicator Display, Body, and Monocoque Chasis, Electric Powertrain, the manufacture of battery charging stations, and batteries.

The lecturers and students were also involved in the research and development process of the electric bus through the lecturer's sabbatical program in the industry and the Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka (MBKM). The students will do a certified internship at PT INKA for one semester.

"It will cost IDR 45 billion for the development and manufacture of the nine electric buses. These costs will be borne by INKA and the Ministry of Education and Culture", he said.

PT INKA will be responsible for financing the nine electric bus platforms, engineers, and technicians, providing training, certifying electric buses for the G20 Summit, and investing in post-G20 business development.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology is responsible for the development of key electric bus components, manufacture or procurement of electric bus key components and integration, and tuning of all key components in the bus platform.

The Director of Research, Technology and Community Service at the Ministry of Education and Culture, Prof. Teuku Faisal Fathani, said that the Tri Dharma of higher education can unite three pillars as a motor for sustainable development, preparing creative and innovative human resources and the backbone of innovation.

Faisal explained that Indonesia needs electric vehicles, due to the declining reserves of fossil fuels and the problems caused by air pollution and global warming.