City-owned transportation company PT Transjakarta is soon to accelerate the addition of the electric bus fleet. It is supported by the issuance of a yellow plate for testing and adjustment of specifications by the Ministry of Transportation.

PT Transjakarta President Director, Agung Wicaksono said that his party met with Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi last Tuesday (9/10) to discuss the development of electric buses.

PT Transjakarta Stages Electric Bus Trials

"In this meeting, the company received full back up for the use of electric buses," he said, Thursday (9/12).

On that occasion, the minister gave three of directives, namely the acceleration of the yellow plates issuance for testing electric buses, accelerating and multiplying the realization of electric buses, as well as dispensation of the discrepancy in specifications during the trial.

Thus far it is now available electric bus brands MAB (Anak Bangsa Car) and BYD with Bakrie Autopart authorized distributors who are in the testing schedule.

"After the Presidential Decree on Electric Cars was published, the Transjakarta will test various bus brands from Europe, America and Asia that aims to find out the specifications and resistance to weather, road conditions, traffic patterns and various other conditions in Jakarta, including trials of certain inundation," he told.

Company Secretary Division Head, Nadia Diposanjoyo added, last June, three electric buses were trialled already and 14,000 passengers enjoyed the vehicle.

"People are very enthusiastic so far," he told.