We held this tour as a campaign to encourage the massive use of battery-based electric vehicles
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Transportation held an electric car tour from Jakarta to Jambi to encourage the massive use of environment-friendly vehicles.

Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi saw off the touring entourage from the Kampung Rambutan Terminal here on Monday.

"We held this tour as a campaign to encourage the massive use of battery-based electric vehicles. This touring activity was a symbol of our persistent work for this movement," he affirmed.

Sumadi emphasized that environmental problems, such as global warming and the impact of greenhouse gases and carbon emissions, necessitate all parties to take serious efforts.

"Hence, in accordance with the direction of President Joko Widodo, we all should start using vehicles with more environmentally friendly technology," he remarked.

The minister noted that the current campaign for the use of environment-friendly vehicles offered the right momentum, wherein this year, Indonesia was appointed as the host of the G20 international meeting, with focus on the agenda of creating sustainable development and better environmental sustainability in future.

"This is also in line with the Proud of the Indonesian Products National Movement (Gernas BBI) to be held in Jambi on January 19 when the Ministry of Transportation will act as the campaign manager," Sumadi remarked.

The minister is optimistic that the momentum offered by the Indonesian presidency at the G20 and the Gernas BBI would intensify the campaign for the use of environment-friendly vehicles in Indonesia.

In addition, the minister is optimistic that the movement would produce domestic environment-friendly vehicle products that could compete with foreign products.

"Gernas BBI is a tool for our local entrepreneurs to showcase the products. Macro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) business actors contribute to some 90 percent of our economy, for which let us all be proud to use Indonesian products. We must support this movement to help our economy rise towards a Golden Indonesia in 2045," he emphasized.

The Jakarta-Jambi Electric Car Touring in 2022 was followed by 11 electric vehicles comprising one Nissan Leaf electric vehicle, one DFSK Gelora EV electric vehicle, one Hyundai Ionic electric vehicle, eight operational electric vehicles from the Transportation Ministry, two non-electric service vehicles, and four service and companion vehicles.

The distance from Jakarta to Jambi is about 826 kilometers, with an estimated time travel of two days. The participants will arrive in Jambi on January 19, 2022, and will be welcomed by the Minister of Transportation at the finish line.

During the tour, there will be stops at several vehicle charging locations, or Public Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (SPKLU), which have been supported by State-Owned Electricity company, PT PLN Persero

At each point, activities to disseminate information for accelerating the use of electric vehicles will also be conducted with the local governments and related stakeholders.

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Translator: Adimas R F P, Resinta S
Editor: Sri Haryati
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