IEEE Electrification Magazine - June 2020 - 49

several road tests, which are highly
beneficial to observe how prototypes
perform on Indonesian highways.
Moreover, road tests can be used as
promotional material and to teach
the public about EV technology.

National Flagship Research
Program for 2020-2024

Tests on regular
roads are one of
the most important
activities for
research and
development of
EVs in Indonesia.

The plan for research and development of EVs for the next five years
already began in some of the government's regulations, as shown in Figure 6. This research is considered to
be a national priority. The Presidential Regulation (PerPres)
on the National Main Research Plan (RIRN), signed by the
Indonesian president, consisted of nine focused sectors,
including transportation. The RIRN was drafted for the
2017-2045 period. The Ministry of Research, Technology,
and Higher Education drafted the five-year National
Research Priority (PRN) for 2020-2024. This program
includes themes, topics, and research products for the
transportation sector. There are two flagship PRN research
programs. The first is the National Integrated Flagship,
with 70% of its funding from the government. The second
is the Ministry and Institution Flagship, with the government accounting for 30% of its budget. The National Integrated Flagship has a target to improve national
competitiveness. One of the programs from the National
Integrated Flagship is transportation. The transportation
sector includes technologies for railway vehicles, airplanes, and EVs. Furthermore, the development of EV
industrialization has been targeted to improve the national economy, as described by National Medium-Term
Development Plan 2020-2024.

Road Tests for EVs in Indonesia
Tests on regular roads are one of the most important
activities for research and development of EVs in Indonesia. Besides demonstrating a prototype's performance,
the road test is essential to promote the new technology
to the public. There were four important road test
agendas during 2012-2020 that were performed by MOLINA ITS and other university teams. The test was held
from 2 to 6 May 2014 along a route between Jakarta,
Bandung, Tasikmalaya, Purwokerto, Yogyakarta, Madiun,
and Surabaya. Four EVs were tested (Ezzy ITS-1 and 2,
Lowo Ireng, and Widya Wahana), traveling 920 km. The
second road test was held in 2016, from Jakarta to Bali.
This test was to promote GESITS. The tour distance was
1,500 km on regular roads (not highways) during the
rainy season. The program made GESITS very popular
among Indonesians.
The third road test was held from November 2018 to
August 2019. This event was to promote Explore Indonesia, a one-year tour of 16,000 km through 34 provinces,

and it consisted of road tests, a community service campaign, and cultural exploration. The vehicles were
driven on a regular road (not a highway). The provincial branch office of
PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN)
prepared the EV charging system,
exhibitions, and group discussions
about the technology. In most of the
cities along the route, the team held
an open discussion and ride test
with locals and government officials.
Through this program, the team
realized that EVs can be a solution to
fuel distribution problems in rural areas, such as along
the Etape-5 Papua route. The course and tour activity
are shown in Figure 7. The fourth test, EV Parade, was
held in 2019, and it involved driving from Surabaya to
Jakarta, 900 km, with nine cars and 35 bikes. This event
was supported by PT PLN, and the companies tested
charging station services for the EVs. The EV team made
regular stops at PT PLN branch offices to perform public
exhibitions, battery-charging evaluations, and ride tests.

Research Challenges for EVs in Indonesia
A Positive Response From the Public
The road test provided many insights to the team. Public
responses are almost impossible to get without road tests
and open discussions, not only in big cities but in rural
areas. This experience shows that EVs can be a transportation solution for people living in both cities and rural
areas. In big cities in Java, Madura, and Bali, EVs attract
attention due to their cheap fuel cost. With improved
technologies, the price per kilometer of driving is cheaper
than conventional ICE vehicles. A comparison of fuel
equivalencies shows that ICEs require 5.5 L/100 km, while
EVs consume only 1.7 L/100 km, using 2035 technologies.
In rural areas, especially those with limited access to fuel,
EVs are a perfect solution. Consumers can recharge EV
batteries using the electricity in their homes. For areas
that are isolated from the electrical grid, consumers can
use PV batteries to charge the vehicles.

Research Support From Government and Industry
The LPDP is a government agency that manages endowment funds supported by the Ministry of Finance and
Ministry of Education. In 2014, the LPDP gave substantial
funding to support research and development of electric
cars. Funding was also given to five universities (ITS, ITB,
UGM, UI, and UNS) to provide equipment for research and
development. From 2015 until today, the LPDP has committed to providing research and development funds for
EV research through RISPRO invitations. One institution
that has been granted this funding every year is the MOLINA National EV Research Team.

IEEE Elec trific ation Magazine / J UNE 2 0 2 0

IEEE Electrification Magazine - June 2020

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