Jakarta (ANTARA) - Speaker of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR), Bambang Soesatyo, has called on the government to improve infrastructure that supports the use of electric vehicles (EVs) among the public.

He said the government must address people’s concerns about the ability of EVs to replace fuel-powered vehicles, given the limited range and insufficient battery charging infrastructure.

“Thus, it would make it easier and expand the community’s access to buy and use EVs,” Soesatyo said in a statement on Friday.

He asked the government to promote the electric motorcycle purchase subsidy to encourage more people to shift to using them.

“I ask the government to ensure that the prices of EVs, including the maintenance cost, is in line with the community’s purchasing power so that more people can use electric vehicles,” he stated.

In an effort to promote the use of EVs, the government has implemented a subsidy program for the purchase of electric motorcycles.

The subsidy is worth Rp7 million (around US$460) per motorcycle and it is available to all citizens.

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Translator: Laily Rahmawaty, Raka Adji
Editor: Anton Santoso
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