Battery Swapping Station May Boost Public Interest in Electric Vehicles: Jokowi

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo said the battery swapping station facility operated by state-owned gas and oil firm Pertamina could boost the interest of the Indonesian people in electric vehicles.

He made the statement when attending an event on electric vehicle ecosystem development today, Feb. 22. He also opined that such a facility could diminish users’ worries about the charging time.

“Charging the vehicle does not take a long time. [Users can] take the new battery, then put the old one [to the station]. And I think this kind of management process is what vehicle users want, and it attracts everyone's interest to switch to electric vehicles because they are cheaper and most importantly do not cause pollution,” said the President.

The government is presently committed to developing an electric vehicle ecosystem. Thus, he appreciated companies such as Gojek, Elektrum, Pertamina, and Gesits, who collaborated to develop the ecosystem in Indonesia.

The Indonesian government eyes to reduce carbon emissions by 29 percent by 2030 and reach zero carbon emission by 2060.

“With the support of the electric vehicle ecosystem from upstream to downstream, hopefully, Indonesia will surely become the main producer of electric vehicles. And we target 25 million electric vehicles to be used in Indonesia by 2025,” Jokowi pinned hopes.

Read: Jokowi Eyeing to Develop Electric Vehicle Ecosystem in Indonesia

RAFIF RAHEDIAN