Jakarta – To combat rising pollution levels and contribute to a sustainable future, the Ministry of Transportation in Indonesia has taken a decisive step towards electrifying the country’s public transport fleet. Acknowledging the imperative need for strategic planning and comprehensive support, ITDP Indonesia, supported by ViriyaENB, the World Economic Forum (WEF) Moving Indonesia, and the World Resources Institute (WRI) Indonesia collaborate in identifying barriers to electrification of public transport fleets while presenting initial recommendations to expedite the process.
During a recent panel discussion and workshop titled “The Challenge of Electrifying Indonesia’s Public Transport Fleet” in Jakarta, highlighting the urgency of the situation, the Ministry of Transportation emphasised its commitment to curbing greenhouse gas emissions by a significant margin and introducing electric buses into 90% of the public transport fleet by 2025. Despite these ambitions, limited planning and financial constraints have impeded progress.
“The electrification process is not just about transitioning to electricity-driven vehicles; it marks a pivotal moment for a comprehensive reform of the entire public transport system,” stated a representative from the Ministry. The workshop emphasised the need for an integrated transport system and a well-defined operational plan to ensure a seamless transition, especially within the informal public transport sector prevalent in Indonesian cities.
The workshop’s overarching objectives included an in-depth analysis of the hurdles in implementing electrification, obtaining valuable feedback on initial recommendations, and securing firm commitments from the government for policy changes necessary for a successful transition. Participants engaged in lively discussions, highlighting the intricate policy, institutional, and operational barriers to practical electrification.
In the discussion, participants identified that part of the solution to accelerating the electrification of mass transportation is regulatory and infrastructure support. The government is expected to boost demand and drive the cost down for mass transportation or city buses. Bulk procurement is also an identified solution to the high initial capital.
Jakarta has an aggressive roadmap for the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) program, aiming for more than 10,000 units of electric buses by 2030. The roadmap for the e-mobility plan aims for 90% of mass transport to be electric-based by 2030. There is currently a BRT project in Bandung and Medan, funded by a loan from the World Bank. (nsh)
