Retrofit Conventional Motorcycles to Electric Gives More Benefits
- VIVA/Nur Faishal (Surabaya)
VIVA – The VKTR President Director, Gilarsi W Setijono, said that retrofitting conventional motorcycles to electric motors is a solution for the government and society. Through this choice, there will be three benefits that can be gotten, namely reducing pollution, especially in urban areas, utilizing appropriate technology, and saving costs.
"This retrofit technology is not rocket science and is relatively easy to apply. Therefore, we are optimistic that the method we offer can be quickly accepted by the public at large and get full support from the government and the business world in particular," Gilarsi W Setijono remarked.
It was conveyed by Gilarsi in a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) with the theme “Pemetaan Potensi Membangun Industri Elektrifikasi Transportasi Indonesia’ at Politeknik Elektronika Negeri, Surabaya (PENS) on Tuesday, November 29, 2022.
Gilarsi also explained the fact that Indonesia becomes third country with the most motorcycles users in the world now. Around 85 percent of Indonesian people have at least own one motorcycle and use it as their main transportation.
Motor lawas yang berhasil di konversi menjadi listrik
- VIVA Otomotif/Muhammad Thoifur
According to a survey conducted by the Indonesian Motorcycle Industry Association (AISI), Gilarsi explained that the total number of motorcycles in Indonesia currently reaches more than 80 million with 15 million of them used to pass through the city of Jakarta every day.
Both an opportunity and a challenge. To realize the electric vehicle industry, synergy and collaboration between parties are needed.
"This industry needs to work together to collaborate so that the EV ecosystem can be built. If this continues, it will bring a very good industrial ecosystem," Gilarsi explained.
Gilarsi explained that the challenges currently faced by transportation electrification industry players in the country include early technology and the lack of electric vehicle options on the market. In addition, supporting infrastructure such as SPKLU (Public Electric Vehicle Charging Station) has also not been prepared.
"However, the industrialization of electric vehicles must be built and developed in Indonesia. Currently around the world, electrification is indeed one that is relied upon to be the core industry of the future," Gilarsi explained.
Meanwhile, on the same occasion, PENS Director Aliridho Barakbah said that in addition to VKTR, the FGD also invited some institutions such as Sebelas Maret University (UNS) Surakarta, the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), PT PLN (Persero), and PT INKA (Persero) to participate directly in the discussion.
"We hope that through this FGD all parties can work together more solidly to map the transportation electrification industry, and identify obstacles, potential and opportunities, so we can immediately develop together," Aliridho stated.
In addition to the FGD, PENS, and VKTR also held technology exhibitions such as electric vehicles. One of them showcases the success of the collaboration of the two parties in converting conventional fuel-engine motorcycles into electric motor-powered motorcycles with a technology called retrofit.
