Electric buses help reduce dependence on fuel oil, says ITDP
The Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) Indonesia has said that electric buses can help reduce dependence on fuel oil.
“Looking at the context and the energy landscape, as well as energy use and emissions from the transport sector, we conducted a study on public transport because it is one of the most systematic and structural solutions to help us reduce dependence on fuel oil. And this is accompanied by the electrification of buses themselves,” said ITDP Southeast Asia Director Gonggomtua Sitanggang in Jakarta on Wednesday.
According to him, based on research, land transport is the main contributor to fuel oil consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Land transport absorbs nearly 90 percent of the transport sector’s fuel oil consumption.
In addition, land transport also contributes nearly 90 percent of the total greenhouse gas emissions from the transport sector.
“If energy prices rise, one can imagine how much this contributes or how much cost we incur,” said Gonggomtua Sitanggang.
For information, President Prabowo Subianto has stated that various modes of transport in Indonesia will in the future switch to using electric power, in line with the government’s efforts to build a green and renewable energy system.
“We will build green energy. Renewable energy. Not to mention trains, later almost all of our vehicles will run on electricity — our trucks, our buses, our cars, our motorbikes,” said Prabowo.
Prabowo said the development of electric-based transport is part of the direction of national energy development that prioritises green and renewable energy.
The President also emphasised that railways are an important part of supporting the tourism sector. He assessed that the revitalisation of hundreds of railway stations carried out by PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) can become a tourist attraction as well as part of the national transformation.
The President assessed that improving transport infrastructure and preserving historic buildings can strengthen tourism appeal in various regions.