Jokowi's Ambition to Build Electric Vehicle Ecosystem in Indonesia

TheIndonesia.id - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) echoed the government's keenness to build a large-scale electric vehicle ecosystem covering the upstream to downstream sectors. President states that Indonesia has the resources to achieve that.

 "Starting from nickel mining, then the smelter, the refinery, the construction of the cathode and precursor industries, the lithium battery, the EV battery, the electric battery, and the car as well," Jokowi noted at the KCC Glass project at the Batang Integrated Industrial Estate (KITB), Batang District, Central Java, Wednesday, June 8, 2022.

 After the production of electric cars, the government is also keen to continue industrial development for recycling electric batteries to create a large electric vehicle ecosystem in the country, he stated.

 If the electric car ecosystem from upstream to downstream is built in Indonesia, then in the future, the price of electric cars can become cheaper. Moreover, Indonesia has natural resources, such as nickel, which is a source of raw materials for electric vehicle components.

 In addition, with the development of technology, Jokowi believes that the price of electric cars can be reduced.

 "Battery constitutes almost 50 percent of the price of the electric car. If we can produce it on our own, then the battery price will become cheaper, moreover, if the factory is built in Indonesia. We have nickel and cobalt, and we can produce everything from upstream to downstream to reduce the price," Jokowi stated.

 During his working visit to Batang, the president was accompanied by First Lady Iriana Jokowi and had the opportunity to ride an electric car after leaving the Gringsing Toll Road, Batang, to the Batang Integrated Industrial Estate (KITB).

 Minister of Investment/Head of BKPM Bahlil Lahadalia, Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, and President Director of PT Pembangunan Persero (PP) Novel Arsyad, accompanied the president and First Lady in the same car.

 In another electric car, Minister of State-Owned Enterprises Erick Thohir sat along with Minister of Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya Bakar. Meanwhile, Governor of Central Java Ganjar Pranowo rode another electric car along with his wife.