PT VKTR Teknologi Mobilitas (VKTR), a subsidiary of PT Bakrie & Brothers Tbk (BNBR) which is engaged in the transportation electrification industry and telematics ecosystem, today signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with PT Transjakarta and a British company engaged in the development sector. and supply of electric powertrain solutions, Equipmake Limited. The signing was carried out by the President Director of PT Transjakarta, M. Yana Aditya, the President Director of PT VKTR Teknologi Mobilitas, Gilarsi W. Setijono, and the founder and CEO of Equipmake Limited, Ian Foley, in Jakarta, Thursday (18/8/2022).

Gilarsi said the signing of this MoU was carried out to realize VKTR’s commitment to accelerating the use of EVs and the development of an electric-based vehicle ecosystem in Indonesia. In the early stages, this collaboration will produce a prototype of a ‘retrofit’ bus, as well as be the beginning of the implementation of a ‘retrofit’ bus test program by PT Transjakarta. “This collaboration establishes Transjakarta as the party that provides conventional buses with internal combustion engines (ICE – Internal Combustion Engine) for VKTR. This conventional bus was then engineered through a conversion process by VKTR into a bus with electric motor technology,” said Gilarsi to reporters.

Gilarsi added, as a form of VKTR’s seriousness in mastering technology and developing electric vehicles in the country, his party has invested directly in Equipmake Limited. It is known, the company based in Snetterton, Norfolk, England is engaged in the technology of developing and supplying electric powertrains for various types of electric vehicles. “Together with Equipmake, we will produce retrofit buses that will be used in trials which are expected to take place over the next three months,” said Gilarsi again.

VKTR will later collect data related to vehicle performance; includes energy efficiency, mileage, and battery quality and performance. VKTR will also provide the necessary electricity charging infrastructure to support the operation of the retrofit bus. “We hope that this strategic cooperation will run smoothly, and gradually all conventional buses in Jakarta can be converted into electric buses. In this way, we can help accelerate the achievement of the ideals of clean air and a healthier environment in the capital,” said Gilarsi.

President Director of PT Transjakarta M. Yana Aditya said his party welcomed this strategic cooperation. He hopes that this trial will be successful and will soon be fully implemented to retrofit around 3,000 existing Transjakarta buses which are currently still operating using diesel and CNG power. “This will be an important part in the history of electricity-based public transportation in Jakarta. Please pray for his blessing,” concluded Yana.