Indonesia Plans Electric Cars Only for National Cars

Batam (Antara) - Research, Technology and High Educational Institute Minister Muhammad Nasir said Indonesia has plan to build electric cars only as national car. "Yes only electric cars , not ones fueled with oil or other fuels," the minister said here on Monday. He said the government chose electric cars as they are environmentally friendly. Japan and South Korea have been ahead in the technology of oil fueled cars in Asia and it would be difficult to compete with them, he said. In addition the country oil reserves have been dwindling fast, he said. Currently, the national car project is in the process of evaluation and trial operation by the Technology Application and Study Agency (BPPT) and two state universities -- the Indonesian University and the Bandung Institute of Technology , he said. The evaluation and trial run is expected to show any weaknesses of the design, by the end of this year, he said. (*)