Indonesia Energy Ministry: Accelerating Electric Motor Conversion, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Asks to Involve SMEs

The use of clean energy has become a national and international demand. In line with this spirit, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) today launched a Pilot Project for the Conversion of Fuel-Driven Motorcycles to Electric Motors. This conversion project is the result of research from the Center for Research and Development of Electricity Technology and EBTKE (P3TKEBTKE/P3Tek) ESDM Research and Development Agency.

“At the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, I always emphasize to the Head of the Research and Development Agency to conduct research on appropriate technology, which can be utilized as much as possible for the community. So no longer doing research that is difficult to implement,” said Arifin.

For this reason, Arifin appreciates the activities of the ESDM Research and Development Agency through the conversion program from BBM Motorcycles to Electric Motorcycles. “The fuel motor conversion project to an electric motor, although simple, we see that the efforts (research on appropriate technology) are starting to run and of course we can continue to develop this,” said Arifin.

Arifin also suggested that in order for this program to run faster, in its subsequent implementation it would involve small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and conduct trainings. With these efforts, Arifin believes that the transfer of technology and knowledge will work well and the community can independently modify the conversion of fuel motors to electric motors.

“We have to increase this program to the level of SMEs throughout Indonesia. This is our challenge going forward how we can share technology so that it can be useful for many people. I also hope that after this, there will be a follow-up from the Research and Development Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources to make Vocational education through training for SMEs and vocational education for vocational school children, STM-STM students in the field of machinery,” suggested Arifin.

Following up on the directives of the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Plt. Head of the ESDM Research and Development Agency, Dadan Kusdiana, said that the program for converting fuel-driven motorbikes to electric motorbikes is a manifestation of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources’ commitment in accelerating the implementation of the Battery-Based Electric Motorized Vehicle (KBLBB) program for road transportation, as well as an action plan for energy transition to clean energy.

The conversion program will be carried out in stages until the end of December 2021 for about 108 motorcycle units and in its implementation will be carried out by involving Vocational High Schools (SMK) and also the closest SMEs around the P3TKEBTKE Office Complex, Jalan Pendidikan Number 1 Pengasinan, Gunung Sindur, Bogor Regency.

The importance of cooperation in the implementation of the conversion was also conveyed by the Director General of Land Transportation of the Ministry of Transportation Budi Setiyadi at the same event.

“To accelerate the conversion, we were asked to coordinate with various parties and we also carried out a roadmap as mandated by the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs, namely the use of electricity-based mass transportation,” said Budi.

In connection with the implementation of the conversion of electric motorcycles that are being carried out by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, currently there are two workshops that have submitted to the Ministry of Transportation to be given certificates and an assessment is carried out regarding human resources and the availability of tools to become conversion workshops.

Budi hopes that the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources can become a mentor for SME workshops to build conversion workshops so that this program can run well.

“With the conversion workshop at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, we hope that many certified conversion workshops that are SMEs in nature will be fostered elsewhere, as was done at P3TKEBTKE of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources,” concluded Budi.