Investors sought for buggy project
Dewi Santoso, Jakarta
Eleven months after the launching of the country's first electric buggy, dubbed the Marlip, its maker, the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), says that it is seeking investors to mass produce the prototype.
LIPI director Umar Anggara Jenie said on Friday that they had received an order for 100 of the cars from the National Police. Due to budget constraints, however, LIPI was able to produce only two, which are to be given to the Makassar Police.
"It would take around Rp 3 billion (US$319,148) to produce 100 Marlip. The police are not going to pay up front and we don't have that sort of money. Thus, we're counting on investors to help finance the project," said Umar.
He added that it took between Rp 300 million and Rp 500 million to develop the Marlip, whose components are 60 percent local.
Unveiled in July 2003, the Marlip is an environmentally friendly buggy that runs on a 36-volt DC motor, which gives 2.5 horsepower at between 3,300 and 8,000 revs per minute (rpm), less than a golf cart, which has 5.5 horsepower. The battery lasts for eight hours.
The buggy's name is an acronym for Marmut Listrik buatan LIPI, or "LIPI electric guinea pig". The name marmut was chosen as the buggy is said to resemble the rodent.
With a maximum of 40 kilometers per hour, the buggy -- which carry between six and eight passengers -- is suitable for use around such places as hospitals, police headquarters, airports and seaports. One buggy costs around Rp 45 million.
As for the possibility of Marlip being used on the streets, Umar said that there were no regulations as yet governing the driving of electric buggies on public highways.
"The regulations that the country has at the moment refer to cars that use gasoline as their fuel. Thus, we aren't promoting the Marlip for use on the streets until such time as regulations on electric vehicles are issued by the government," he said.
To date, LIPI has produced 10 of the buggies, four of which are now in use at the Bogor Botanical Garden, four at Karawang General Hospital and two at Makassar Police Headquarters.
To make sure the Marlip stays Indonesian, LIPI has patented the name, and its motor and its design.
Umar explained that LIPI had done so in order to prevent its design being copied.
"We're proud of it because it's been completely designed and produced by Indonesian researchers and scientists," he said.
He added that the development of the Marlip should send a clear message to the country's automakers and investors.
"We have to appreciate our own products. If we are able to make our own products, why should we buy them from other countries?" asked Umar.