"This electric bus has various advantages."
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Research and Technology Minister Gusti M Hatta test-drove an Indonesian electric bus here on Tuesday to mark the 17th National Technology Awakening Day.

"This electric bus has various advantages, energy efficient, environmentally friendly, because there are no emissions, and low operating costs," he said here on Tuesday.

The development of the national electric bus has provided momentum at the right time, before the entry of similar foreign products into Indonesia`s large market, Gusti added.

He expressed hope that the electric bus could be mass-produced by 2014.

Also taking part in the test drive, as passengers, were Transportation Minister EE Mangidaan, Deputy Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Rudi Rubiandini, and Head of the Indonesian Research and Science Institute (LIPI) Lukman Hakim.

This bus, which was developed at LIPI`s Electric Power and Mechatronics Research Centre, is capable of carrying 15 passengers. It can attain a maximum speed of 100 kilometres per hour and travel up to 150 km on a single charge of its 500 ampere battery.

According to LIPI researcher Abdul Hafid, the electric bus uses Lithium batteries (LifeP04), due to which its operating cost is reduced by more than 50 percent and maintenance cost goes down by 70 percent.

The summit of the National Technology Awakening Day will be held in Bandung, West Java, on August 8-10, 2012, which will feature various events such as the Ritech Expo in Sabuga and Triple Helix Conference at the Hotel Grand Royal Panghegar Bandung.

The summit will be held at Merdeka Building and is scheduled to be attended by the Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Based on the President`s decision No. 71 of 1995, the commemoration of the National Technology Awakening Day began after Indonesia successfully conducted the flight test of Gatotkaca N-250 aircraft, a product of the national aircraft industry, for the first time on August 10, 1995.

According to Gusti, the National Technology Awakening Day represents the achievements of Indonesians in science and technology.
(T.A050/INE/KR-BSR/S012)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2012