Ministry, VKTR Give Three Electric Buses to Gadjah Mada University

Yogyaakarta – The Indonesian Investment Ministry and VKTR Teknologi Mobilitas (VKTR) gave three electric buses to Gadjah Mada University (UGM) on Wednesday.

Deputy for Investment Cooperation, Ministry of National Development Planning/Bappenas, Riyatno said the electric bus gave to UGM in line with government policy in developing battery-based electric vehicle ecosystem in Indonesia.

The government continues to consistently encourage green and low-carbon economy as one of the strategies in realizing Indonesia's economic transformation.

“One of the targets in the energy sector roadmap is to achieve zero carbon emission by 2060 with the use of electric vehicle both for commercial activities and private vehicles,” Riyanto remarked in a statement.

Riyatno further revealed that Indonesia has nickel reserves equivalent to 23 percent of reserves in the world, which greatly supports the development of the electric battery industry ecosystem in Indonesia. 

This condition makes the government provide support in the form of providing various incentives such as a tax holiday for producers for 20 years, super tax deduction of up to 300 percent, and VAT exemption on the import and acquisition of capital goods in the form of machinery and factories for motor vehicles.

“The government focuses on consumers by providing incentives in the form of subsidies for the purchase of electric motorbikes amounting to IDR 7 million, reduction of VAT on the purchase of electric cars and buses, and reduction of motor vehicle registration fees for motorbikes and electric cars up to 90 percent,” Riyatno explained.

Meanwhile, Director of VKTR Gilarsi W Setijono, explained that the buses donated to UGM have a wider design than buses in general and have received permission from the Ministry of Transportation. 

“Usually the width of electric buses is only 2.1 meters, we make it 2.4 meters so that the load becomes more, safer, and more comfortable,” Setijono said.

“This electric bus has a passenger capacity of more than 30 people. This bus is also able to travel 220 kilometers for one charge,” he continued.

Meanwhile, UGM Rector, Ova Emilia, appreciated the grant of three electric buses given by the Ministry of Investment worth IDR 4.1 billion is very useful for Gadjah Mada University to support efforts to reduce carbon emissions.

“I think the electric bus to support the government program in realizing UGM as a green campus,” Emilia stated.