FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
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Grab strengthens Indonesia’s EV ecosystem

Grab strengthens Indonesia’s EV ecosystem

Land transportation that relies on clean energy is the dream of many environmentally conscious leaders, and electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming an increasingly popular alternative for their potential contributions to a pollution-free environment.

To accelerate the development and adoption of EVs in Indonesia, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has issued Presidential Regulation (Perpres) No. 55, 2019 on electric vehicles.

Several governors, including Bali Governor I Wayan Koster, have also envisioned the development of clean energy and the adoption of battery-powered vehicles.

But realizing the country’s dream is not as simple as many might think, because it requires investment as well as competence, experience and resources from third parties.

This means that collaboration with different stakeholders is key to the success of the program.

This is where Grab, Southeast Asia’s leading super app, comes in to reaffirm its long-standing commitment to advance Indonesia, especially following the launch of EVs in Bali.

In collaboration with the state-owned electricity company’s local branch, PLN UID Bali, the Bali Transportation Office, PT Pegadaian, Astra Honda Motor and Panasonic, Grab on Nov. 26 launched 30 electric motorcycles (EMs) and seven public electric vehicle battery swap stations (SPBKLU) in the island province.

Grab Indonesia stated that the EM launch was intended to support Bali Gubernatorial Regulation Nos. 45 and 48 of 2019 on green energy and the use of Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) to develop a clean Bali through eco-friendly road vehicles.

The launch of EMs also aligns with the super app’s GrabForGood mission on developing pivotal sectors in Indonesia.

One of these sectors is transportation and the development of an EV-based public transit network for the next generation. In launching the electric motorcycles in Bali, Grab has become the first company to operate more than 5,000 EVs in Indonesia.

 

Main driver of EV development

Grab Indonesia managing director Neneng Goenadi elucidated the company’s commitment to become the main driver of EV development in the country.

“To support the government’s mission in cutting down carbon emissions by up to 29 percent in 2030, we launched an EV ecosystem road map in Indonesia in 2019. Today, we are proud that we were able to expand our outreach to Bali. Providing EVs and SPBKLUs on the ‘Island of the Gods’ supports the establishment of an eco-friendly and efficient traffic and land transportation system,” said Neneng.

“Through collaboration with a number of parties such as PLN and Pegadaian, we extend our gratitude to the local administration and relevant offices in Bali which share similar vision in advancing the development of electricity-powered transportation in Indonesia,” she continued.

Meanwhile, Bali Governor I Wayan Koster hailed Grab’s use of EVs in the province. “I am very pleased to see the launch of the EVs, which implements Bali’s development vision and supports the ‘Nangun Sat Kheti Loka Bali’ policy,” he said.

“Gubernatorial Regulation numbers 45 and 48 of 2019 on clean energy and the use of battery-powered vehicles was formulated with respect to Bali’s local wisdoms. Maintaining harmony between Bali’s [natural environment], people and culture is important for us. [Maintaining] a clean environment must be connected to the efforts to create a pollution-free environment. This relates to clean energy, starting from power plants to daily [activities] and facilities,” Koster stressed.

“Looking ahead, we will build eco-friendly, new and renewable power plants. I hope that the presence of the electric motorcycles will increasingly support a clean and pollution-free environment in Bali.”

PLN UID Bali General Manager Adi Priyanto expressed his enthusiasm for collaborating with Grab in encouraging the development of a BEV ecosystem toward national energy sustainability.

"Cooperation in the accelerated [development] of electric vehicles is highly appropriate and strategic. PLN and Grab have the competence, experience and resources to work together to support the electric vehicle penetration program in Indonesia, which is more economical [and] environmentally friendly. We share the same vision for modern civilization. Thank you, Grab, for supporting this program," said Adi.

The head of Pegadaian Denpasar Regional Office VII, Nuril Islamiah, said that he was also proud to be part of the program.

“This collaboration is in line with [...] our mission to build a more diverse business that can be enjoyed by more people. We hope that this cooperation can help advance various local sectors in Bali, especially in the EV field,” he said.

 

National EV Ecosystem

Grab’s engagement with EV ecosystem development started in August 2019, when the company took part in EV development studies with the Industry Ministry. One of these studies was in Bali and focused on technical performance and customer acceptance, as well as industrial and social impacts, and aimed to formulate a policy for the development of electric vehicles.

In December 2019, Grab and the Office of the Maritime Affairs and Investment Coordinating Minister released the “Electric Vehicle Ecosystem Roadmap” with an aim to accelerate the adoption of EVs in Indonesia and to create a more environmentally friendly transit network.

This was followed by the January 2020 launch of the GrabCar Elektrik service at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, with the support of South Korean auto giant Hyundai.

To date, Grab has collaborated with Hyundai, Kymco, VIAR and SELIS to provide its fleet of more than 5,000 electric cars, motorcycles, bicycles and scooters across the archipelago.

An internal survey Grab conducted in September showed that 70 percent of Grab’s EV driver-partners said that the technology had increased their income because of reduced fuel costs.

“Southeast Research and the CSIS, at the beginning of last year, showed that Grab had contributed Rp 889 billion to the Bali provincial economy through our technology,” said Neneng. “These joint efforts are in line with GrabForGood's commitment to accelerating digital infrastructure development in Indonesia, and will help us come up with solutions that offer efficiency in transportation costs and encourage more people to use EVs.”

“In the future, we want to be the main driving force in initiating joint collaboration and building partnerships with the government and a variety of sectors," she said.

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