Thirty electric buses were launched by Jakarta city-owned bus operator PT Transjakarta on Tuesday to cater to the daily transportation needs of citizens residing in the capital.
The provision of the electric buses is part of efforts by the local government to build a national electric vehicle ecosystem, an official said.
The electric buses are operated by Transjakarta subsidiary, PT Mayasari Bakti, and rolled out in collaboration between PT Vektr Mobiliti Indonesia (VKTR) and China’s BYD Auto.
“We have a strategic partnership with BYD Auto. They have been our partner in providing technology for electric bus products for Bakrie Autoparts since 2018,” president director of PT Vektr Mobiliti Indonesia, Gilarsi W. Setijono, said in a written statement received here on Tuesday.
The launch of the electric buses in the National Monument (Monas) area on Tuesday was also attended by Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan.
VKTR (read: Vector) is a new entity engaged in the development of the electric vehicle industry, Setijono said.
The company is separate from PT Bakrie Autoparts, a subsidiary of PT Bakrie & Brothers Tbk (BNBR) that has more than 40 years of experience in the automotive components industry, he added.
VKTR is currently involved in developing the high-mobility electric vehicles industry in the country, he said.
The launch of the electric buses is part of this effort. In the future, VKTR will also develop other types of commercial vehicles, he informed.
The 30 VKTR-BYD electric buses that have started operating on the Non-Bus Rapid Transit (Non-BRT) Transjakarta route are low-deck BYD buses type K-9 spanning 12 meters in length, with a maximum capacity of 60 passengers, he said.
After launching 30 electric buses in the initial stage, Transjakarta has also determined the specifications for the next electric buses it needs, he added.
“Transjakarta has stated that they need electric buses with high floors to be used for the second stage on the bus rapid transit route. They will also need medium-sized buses for the feeder line. And, of course, we will fulfill these needs,” he said.
Speaking of the next VKTR target, Setijono said that the company is committed to developing the electric vehicle industry in Indonesia further and has prepared a number of plans to build partnerships with several parties with different expertise in the industry.
For instance, VKTR has signed a strategic partnership with Karoseri Tri Sakti, a manufacturing company based in Magelang city, that produces big, medium, articulated, and double-decker buses, he informed.
“Tri Sakti will become one of our important partners, especially in bus manufacturing,” Setijono said.
Source: Antara News