Jakarta (ANTARA) – Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi has urged people to switch to using electric vehicles (EVs) to improve air quality, especially in urban areas like Jakarta.”If this transition becomes widespread, we hope it can significantly reduce pollution in major cities,” he said during a fun ride event organized by the Indonesian Electric Motorcycle Industry Association (Aismoli) in Jakarta on Sunday. He emphasized that fuel-powered motor vehicles contribute more than 50 percent to air pollution. “Additionally, as people return to their normal activities after the COVID-19 pandemic, pollution in Jakarta has increased,” he added. He affirmed that the government is committed to accelerating the development of the EV ecosystem, including the conversion from fuel-powered motorcycles to electric motorcycles. To ensure the safety of converted motorcycles, the Ministry of Transportation has issued a regulation. This regulation is part of the efforts to expedite improvements in the electric motorcycle ecosystem by enhancing vehicle testing services for converted motorcycles. Sumadi expressed his hope that the EV ecosystem would continue to evolve, leading to better EV quality at more affordable prices. During the same event, Aismoli Chairperson Budi Setiadi stated that as a government partner, their organization continues to encourage the widespread use of EVs in Indonesia. “We organized today’s activity to encourage the community to switch to EVs, especially considering the recent air pollution concerns in Jakarta,” he said. He urged industry players to manufacture EVs according to the required capacity. Setiadi also expressed appreciation for the various efforts the government has undertaken. He highlighted several government programs, such as using EVs for operational vehicles at government offices and the vehicle conversion program.

Source: Antara News Agency