Homegrown Electric Car Can Go the Distance: Govt

Jakarta Globe, June 24, 2012

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Indonesian scientists have unveiled an electric car that they claim can travel 150 kilometers on a single charge, further than most electric city cars available today.

Two prototypes of the car were rolled out on Thursday at the National Monument (Monas) Park in Central Jakarta by researchers from the Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT) and the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI).

“This car is fueled entirely by electricity and is not a hybrid vehicle,” said Agus Hoetman, an adviser to Research and Technology Minister Gusti Muhammad Hatta.

“We are currently testing it for urban use,” he said, adding that the car was particularly suited for the stop-start driving pattern in a congested city environment.

“This car saves energy because there are no parts in the engine that need to keep moving when the car is stationary during a traffic jam. That’s different from gasoline-fueled cars,” he said.

Agus said the car had a range of up to 150 kilometers on a single charge, further than the 60-145 kilometers currently available from electric cars with a top speed of less than 100 kilometers an hour.

He said that in a recent test, the researchers almost managed to complete a round trip from Jakarta to Bandung on a single charge. The distance each way is about 130 kilometers.

Hatta previously said the government was earmarking Rp 100 billion ($10.6 million) for the development of an Indonesian-built electric car by four state universities. He said the universities were expected to present their designs soon, before production could begin sometime in 2014.

The minister also said that LIPI had been allocated Rp 1.2 trillion to develop an electric minibus capable of carrying up to 16 passengers.

Antara

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Japan seeks to increase geothermal cooperation with Indonesia

Antara News, Fri, June 22 2012 

Photo document of Indonesia geothermal operating by PT Pertamina
 Geothermal Energy (PGE) in Kamojang, Bandung, West Java.
(ANTARA/Ujang Zaelani)

  

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Japan is seeking to increase its cooperation with Indonesia in the field of geothermal energy development as part of efforts to find energy sources to meet its needs.

"Japan has expressed its commitment to helping in cooperation in the field of geothermal energy development here," vice presidential spokesman Yopie Hidayat told newsmen here on Friday.

He made the statement after Vice President Boediono received the governor of Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), Hiroshi Okuda, and Japanese ambassador Yoshinori Katori.

He said the two countries could cooperate to develop geothermal and hydro-energy sources, noting the similarities in natural conditions in the two countries.

"Japan has used geothermal and hydro-energy sources to generate electricity. Japan wishes to be involved in the development of the energy resources in Indonesia," he said.

He said Vice President Boediono welcomed the JBIC`s request, saying the Indonesian government is prioritizing environmental-friendly power plant development.

Out of the country`s second phase of the 10,000 MW development project, 4,000 MW would come from geothermal sources. "It would be very good if JBIC would participate and support it," he said, quoting the vice president.

Besides power plant development, the vice president also explained about the basic development projects such as infrastructure, energy and non-infrastructure projects which are still widely needed in the country.

JBIC, Yopie said, has participated in the development of a coal-fired power plant in Central Java.

"The project is the first funded by JBIC outside Japan. Although it uses coal as its energy source, its use is very efficient, so that the plant remains environmental-friendly," he said.

During the meeting, which lasted for about 30 minutes, Okuda has also spoken of the law on minerals and coal mining that imposes tax on exports of raw materials.

"He understands that the law is aimed at developing coal and other mineral processing industries in the country. We support and are ready to be involved in the development of smelters in Indonesia," Yopie said.

Editor: Priyambodo RH