Investors sought for buggy project
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.