Regarding The Potential For Hydrogen Cars To Enter Indonesia, TAM: We Are Studying And Need Infrastructure

Toyota Mirai 2023. (Doc. Toyota USA)

JAKARTA - The world's automotive manufacturers are currently competing to create low-emission environmentally friendly vehicles. The owner of this segment is an electric vehicle (EV), but other alternative energy such as hydrogen can be a more attractive option.

Unlike EVs, only a handful of brands have recently developed hydrogen energy, one of which is Toyota. The Japanese manufacturer is known as a pioneer in developing a fuel-cell vehicle (FCV).

Then in Indonesia, the State Electricity Company (PLN) has just inaugurated the operation of 21 Green Hydrogen Plant facilities last November. This PLN breakthrough is able to produce 199 tons of hydrogen energy per year. This step also makes PLN a pioneer in the formation of a supply chain for green hydrogen needs in the future as an alternative fuel that is environmentally friendly, as well as supports the Government's target to achieve Net Zero Emissions (NZE) by 2060.

With the start of supporting infrastructure, how is the potential for FCV cars to be sold in Indonesia?

Anton Jimmy Suwandi, as Marketing Director of PT Toyota-Astra Motor, said that his party is open to several collaborations in the development of the hydrogen ecosystem, even PLN and Pertamina have expressed interest in collaborating with manufacturers.

"So, yesterday we just heard from PLN and Pertamina to work with Toyota. Of course we are open to it because we don't rely on just one technology, we will learn whatever the technology is to reduce emissions," Anton said when answering questions from VOI between meetings with the media at Plaza Senayan, Jakarta, Tuesday, December 12.

However, Anton added that for now the green hydrogen ecosystem requires a lot of supporting infrastructure and his party will also learn more about this trend

There is a note about green hydrogen which we think can provide solutions for fuel-cell vehicles and this requires infrastructure, so we will learn what future trends will be. However, we are positive for studying this system for anyone who wants to work together," explained Anton.

Toyota has a FCV production model called Mirai which has been presented for the overseas market. The sedan has three tanks to accommodate hydrogen which is also driven by 1.24 kWh of lithium-ion and can produce 182 dk of power with the help of rear wheels driving.