Electric cars only use a battery. If we don't have the infrastructure, it will be too risky, because they can run out of energy
Tangerang, Banten (ANTARA) - It is imperative for the country to build supporting infrastructure before it decides to jump into large scale production of electric cars, Chairman of the Association of Indonesian Automotive Manufacturers (Gaikindo) Yohannes Nangoi has stressed.

"Electric cars only use a battery. If we don't have the infrastructure, it will be too risky, because they can run out of energy," Nangoi said in the Gaikindo International Automotive Conference here Wednesday.

The conference was held on the sidelines of the Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show (GIIAS).

Development of electric vehicles is possible in Indonesia, but it should be done in stages with the production of plug-in hybrid and hybrid cars, Nangoi said.

"The electric car industry can be established here, but it should be done in stages. Other countries are also not sure about 100 percent electric vehicles," he added.

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Nangoi underlined the need to consider the battery's lifetime as it would create another problem of hazardous waste if the country wanted to build a purely electric car industry.

"It is true that EVs (electric vehicles) produce clean emission, but after years of operating the battery itself will become a problem. You can imagine, if there are 1.2 to 1.3 million cars in Indonesia, in 10 years there will be one million battery units that will have to be dumped," he remarked.

Indonesia will issue a new harmonization tax and a presidential decree on the acceleration of electric vehicle development.

"We hope that the initiative of fiscal policy will attract more investment," the Director General of Metal, Machinery, Transportation Tools and Electronics Industry of the Industry Ministry Harjanto said. (INE)

EDITED BY INE
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Translator: Sella Panduarsa G, Sri Haryati
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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