Indonesia Has Technology to Produce Electric Cars

Bandung, W Java - Indonesia has the technology to produce electric cars, according to Teguh Rahardjo, Indonesia's Deputy Minister for Science & Technology. "We have the technology to produce electric cars," said Rahardjo, during the `Technology to Support Nation Development' seminar, at the Savoy Homann Bidakara Hotel in Bandung, West Java, on Wednesday. Rahardjo noted that the technology to produce domestic cars had been developed in 1994 by the Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT). Through this technology, we will be able to meet the demand for environmentally friendly vehicles. "The electric car technology was developed when we were conducting research on renewable energy sources to substitute fossil fuels," he said. Today, the research conducted by the BPPT and its stakeholders has borne fruits. It has given birth to green electric cars and bio-fuel technology. However, Rahardjo mentioned that Indonesia needs to integrate its plans and actions to make the production of electric cars a reality. "The BPPT and the Research and Technology Ministry have the technology, but we need other elements like infrastructure and raw materials to make our dream a reality," he said. "Without the proper infrastructure to support the technology, the electric car will remain a prototype. Similarly, there is no point having the proper infrastructure without the relevant technology. Both need to be present," he added. (*)