Investors sought for buggy project<\/p>\n
Dewi Santoso, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Eleven months after the launching of the country's first electric
\nbuggy, dubbed the Marlip, its maker, the Indonesian Institute of
\nSciences (LIPI), says that it is seeking investors to mass
\nproduce the prototype.<\/p>\n
LIPI director Umar Anggara Jenie said on Friday that they had
\nreceived an order for 100 of the cars from the National Police.
\nDue to budget constraints, however, LIPI was able to produce only
\ntwo, which are to be given to the Makassar Police.<\/p>\n
\"It would take around Rp 3 billion (US$319,148) to produce 100
\nMarlip. The police are not going to pay up front and we don't
\nhave that sort of money. Thus, we're counting on investors to
\nhelp finance the project,\" said Umar.<\/p>\n
He added that it took between Rp 300 million and Rp 500
\nmillion to develop the Marlip, whose components are 60 percent
\nlocal.<\/p>\n
Unveiled in July 2003, the Marlip is an environmentally
\nfriendly buggy that runs on a 36-volt DC motor, which gives 2.5
\nhorsepower at between 3,300 and 8,000 revs per minute (rpm), less
\nthan a golf cart, which has 5.5 horsepower. The battery lasts for
\neight hours.<\/p>\n
The buggy's name is an acronym for Marmut Listrik buatan LIPI,
\nor \"LIPI electric guinea pig\". The name marmut was chosen as the
\nbuggy is said to resemble the rodent.<\/p>\n
With a maximum of 40 kilometers per hour, the buggy -- which
\ncarry between six and eight passengers -- is suitable for use
\naround such places as hospitals, police headquarters, airports
\nand seaports. One buggy costs around Rp 45 million.<\/p>\n
As for the possibility of Marlip being used on the streets,
\nUmar said that there were no regulations as yet governing the
\ndriving of electric buggies on public highways.<\/p>\n
\"The regulations that the country has at the moment refer to
\ncars that use gasoline as their fuel. Thus, we aren't promoting
\nthe Marlip for use on the streets until such time as regulations
\non electric vehicles are issued by the government,\" he said.<\/p>\n
To date, LIPI has produced 10 of the buggies, four of which
\nare now in use at the Bogor Botanical Garden, four at Karawang
\nGeneral Hospital and two at Makassar Police Headquarters.<\/p>\n
To make sure the Marlip stays Indonesian, LIPI has patented
\nthe name, and its motor and its design.<\/p>\n
Umar explained that LIPI had done so in order to prevent its
\ndesign being copied.<\/p>\n
\"We're proud of it because it's been completely designed and
\nproduced by Indonesian researchers and scientists,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He added that the development of the Marlip should send a
\nclear message to the country's automakers and investors.<\/p>\n
\"We have to appreciate our own products. If we are able to
\nmake our own products, why should we buy them from other
\ncountries?\" asked Umar.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/investors-sought-for-buggy-project-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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