The Indonesian government has recently been intensively providing support for electric vehicles which are considered to be more environmentally friendly. However, it turns out that electric vehicles are not new to Indonesia. In Eastern Indonesia, many electric vehicles have been circulating.
One of them is in Agats City, Asmat Regency, South Papua Province. Residents there have been using electric vehicles since 2007.
“Not many people know that since 2007 residents in Agats City, Asmat Regency (South Papua Province) have been using electric vehicles (electric vehicles) for mobility. The limitation of getting fuel was one of the obstacles at that time,” said a transportation observer who is also an Academic of the Civil Engineering Study Program. Unika Soegijapranata Djoko Setijowarno, Tuesday (24/1/2023).
In 2018, there were at least 1,280 electric motorbikes that were used by residents in Agats. While fossil-fuel vehicles are rare, or even almost non-existent.
“Motorcycles with fuel are usually only used by the police, while vehicles in the form of cars are only used by hospitals in the form of ambulances or government cars,” said Djoko.
According to him, currently there are more than 4,000 units of electric vehicles there. Interestingly, electric motorbikes in the district are categorized as bicycles.
“The use of number plates is only a marker as a substitute for a levy sticker, so that owners do not have a vehicle registration or driving license and are not subject to vehicle tax,” he said.
“Agats City is a city without traffic lights, very few traffic accidents, no Traffic Police found on the side of the road. There are no Public Fuel Filling Stations (SPBU) and Public Electric Vehicle Filling Stations (SPKLU). , even though the majority use electric motorbikes,” continued Djoko.
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