The last five years the government seeks to acceleration in building an electric vehicle ecosystem to reduce dependence on fossil energy while efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. After President Joko Widodo issued Presidential Regulation Number 55 Year 2019 on the Accelerate of Battery-based Electric Motorized Vehicle Program (KBLBB), electric vehicles from four wheels to two wheels begin many around the streets of major cities, including in DKI Jakarta.
Far from hingar bingar mass media news, the real electricity vehicle ecosystem has formed in a remote city in Papua Island. Since 2007 electric motorcycles have become the main transportation moda in Agats, districts that become the capital city of Asmat Regency, South Papua. Before electric motorcycles present, walking legs become the main choice of citizen mobilization in an area of 701,99 square kilometers and stirring 15.841 the soul (the last data is 2020). In addition, the majority of locals also use motor boats because most of the region are a swamp with many rivers.
The year 2006 became the beginning of the emergence of electric vehicles in Agats after a resident of South Sulawesi, Erna Sabuddin, brought one unit of electric motorcycles. The electric motorbike belongs to Erna Sabuddin attracted the attention of the Asmat Regent, Yuvensius Alfonsius Biakai (2005-2015). Yuvensius then asked Erna to bring one unit again to Agats to be used as a vehicle in the archipelago. Yuvensius star assesses the electric motor bike fits the Agats whose path was the majority of the stage roads made the board above the swamp due to its weight is relatively lighter than conventional motorcycles made by oil.
The atmosphere of Yos Sudarso Road, which is the main road in Agats, Asmat Regency, South Papua.
The electric motorcycle ride across the Asmat Hand Tugu in Agats, Asmat Regency, South Papua.
In addition to being suitable for road conditions, electric motorcycles are also more relevant to the residents of Agats who have difficulty accessing BBM because their living areas are remote from other cities in Papua.
After the Yuvensius Regent, finally the Agats community also participated in making electric motorcycles as the main transportation moda. A number of brands of electric motorcycle manufacturers continue to enter the Agats market as the increasing demand from society. Bahkan, currently local governments recorded the amount of electric motorcycles circulating at Agats reached not less than 4,000 units (data 2022) or 99 percent of vehicles in Agats is an electric motorcycle.
However, in Java or other areas in Indonesia, electric motorcycles in Agats are still categorized as a bicycle so that the owners do not need to have a vehicle number (STNK)Â driving license letter (SIM). The owners of electric motorcycles are only required to have a sign plate have paid a retribution to local governments updated once a year.
The number of citizens driving electric motorcycles on Jalan Yos Sudarso, Agats, Asmat Regency, South Papua.
Warga observes electric motorcycles sold in Agats, Asmat Regency, South Papua.
Not only helps the mobilization of citizens, the existence of electric motorcycles in the Agats also become a blessing for the majority of its citizens in searching for the foul, from the selling of electric motorcycle units, the transportation services of the ojek, to the workshop.
A provider of transportation services, Herman Batmomolin said she was with dozens of people in Agats made electric motorcycles as a tool to deliver passengers around the market and port. When normal time I can get gross income of Rp600 thousand per day. In fact, if the crowded passengers can get Rp750 thousand, Hman said. As the case of Herman, a other citizen, Baharudin also struck a profit from the presence of electric motorcycles in Agats. Since 2015 Baharudin opened the service business of electric motorcycle workshop with omzet around Rp2 million daily.
Meanwhile, the Asmat Regent Elisa Kambu said that there is still no incondemnity to support electric vehicles in Asmat, such as the general electric vehicle charging station (SPKLU). Agats people still independently charge their vehicle batteries at their respective homes, Bupati’s words. Elisa said that the party continues to defend the electric motorcycle as the main transportation moda in Agats. In addition to matching local stage road conditions, the presence of electric motorcycles also contributes to maintaining Agats as a free area of air pollution and sound.
The owners of electric motorcycles show the sign plates have paid a retribution to the local governments updated once a year at Agats, Asmat Regency, South Papua.
The color of electric motorcycle owners charge the vehicle battery independently at home because there is no general electric vehicle charging station (SPKLU) in Agats, Asmat Regency, South Papua.
This is a pride for me and society of Agats, hopefully it can inspire other areas in Indonesia to also build a more environmentally friendly vehicle ecosystem, said Bupati Elisa Kambu.
Photo and text : Aditya Pradana Putra
Montir repairs the electric motorbikes belonging to the Baharudin Workshop on the Agats, Asmat Regency, South Papua.
Three people who receive the service of the ojek posing with his electric motorcycle in Agats, Asmat Regency, South Papua.
Editor : Puspa Perwitasari
