Indonesia’s First Public Electric Bus Is Finally Launched

Electric Bus in Jakarta
Electric Bus in Jakarta
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A breakthrough has been made by PT Transport Jakarta (Transjakarta). Recently, they launched a new fleet consisting of electric-powered buses. The use of an electric-powered bus fleet is carried out as an effort to reduce carbon emissions in the transportation sector while reducing pollution in the capital city of Jakarta.

DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan said, “This is the first electric bus operation in Indonesia for public transportation.”

Anies further emphasized that this is the first step because by 2030 it is expected that all public buses in Jakarta can operate with electric power.

Anies added, “Electric buses have the potential to reduce noise pollution by up to 28% compared to diesel buses, CO2 emissions in electric buses can be reduced by 50.3%, and the energy efficiency level of electric buses has the potential to be 5 (five) times higher than that of electric buses. on diesel buses. So with this electric bus, we reduce carbon emissions, while at the same time reducing the number of private vehicles on the road.”

For the first phase, 30 Transjakarta electric buses are operating. It is targeted that by the end of the year there will be 100 Transjakarta electric buses that can serve residents. The presence of electric buses as a means of transportation is also the first in Indonesia.

Currently, Transjakarta has a 237 km long BRT route, non-BRT and micro transport with a large fleet serving the community every day. Therefore, the electrification of these buses is expected to have a significant impact on public health benefits and improve air quality

Furthermore, the Transjakarta electric bus fleet has a battery capacity of 324 kWh with a distance of up to 250 km or 17 hours of operation. One fleet unit has a fast-charging process of 1.5 hours

“Currently we have operated a low-emission fleet for the Senen – Senayan Roundabout (1P) route which is ready to serve the community from 05.00-21.30 WIB with a regular fare of Rp. 3,500 one way. In the future, all fleets will gradually switch to electric buses. Let’s witness a big change in bus-based transportation services,” said Plt. Head of the Corporate Secretary and Public Relations Division of PT Transport Jakarta (Transjakarta), Angelina Betris.

The launch of the Transjakarta electric bus is the fruit of a joint work initiated in 2018, with international institutions and support from the private sector, including the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), Climate Technology Center and Network, C40 Cities Network, and the British Embassy.

The use of electric-powered public transportation is the first step of a climate-resilient regional low-carbon development plan, it is hoped that by 2030 all public buses in Jakarta can operate with electricity.

Congestion and air pollution are two big challenges facing the City of Jakarta. Both mobility problems are caused by the very high activity of motorized vehicles. Therefore, the solution offered to the community is to facilitate public transportation with an integrated system and generally electric-based vehicles.

Passengers can try the electric bus via the non BRT 1P route (Terminal Senen – Bundaran Senayan). Next, the bus will follow on route 1R: Tanah Abang – Terminal Senen; 1N: Blok M – Tanah Abang; 6N: Ragunan – Blok M.