Earth is the best and only place to live in that we have today. Being said that, every move we make shouldn’t harm the Earth and every single living thing that lives here. We need to slowly start bringing environmental issues in our conversations with our circle of friends as well as family. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean we have to rush to replace all of our stuff with those labeled as eco-friendly. We can start taking baby steps such as using public transportation as our main transportation. As of now, Jakarta has been testing electric buses (e-bus) which will operate soon for the public. Did you know about this, Smartcitizen?

Why Jakarta Needs Electric Bus

Motor vehicle that uses fossils as its main fuel is harmful for the environment. The gas emitted from these vehicles pollutes the air that we breathe. Not only that, this pollutant is also the root of many problems such as acid rain, decreasing air quality, and also causing us health problems.

143,000 thousand tons of pollution are generated by motor vehicles every year in Jakarta. It’s a worrying number because it’s four times greater than the normal limit recommended by the World Health Organization. This pollution also resulted in 123,700 premature deaths in 2019. Seeing this problem, the government is starting to implement new policies to improve Jakarta’s air quality. One of the implementations is designating Kota Tua as a Low Emission Zone, and this policy is already effective from February 2021. Most areas in Jakarta are targeted to become emission-free areas by 2030.

[Low Emission Zone for Healthier Air in Kota Tua]

Not only the Low Emission Zone policy, the government is also planning to provide 100 electric buses in Jakarta this year. The electric buses were already on trial for three months, starting from July 2020 to October 2020 and it has passed the test to operate on the road.

The electric bus that will operate in Jakarta is indeed special because it doesn’t emit harmful gas that causes pollution, has relatively low maintenance costs, and has long battery life. The battery that is used in the electric bus can be recharged for four hours and it can take the bus to go on the road up to 250 kilometers long. By operating 100 electric buses this year, we will reduce 3,300 tons of greenhouse gases emission as well as reducing 270 kg of dust particles and other air pollutants.

Have a Glance at the Electric Bus

Jakarta electric bus. Source: DKI Jakarta on Instagram @dkijakarta

Apart from being environmentally friendly, when operating, the electric bus also doesn’t have the engine noise that’s usually heard when we’re on a conventional bus. It provides safety belts on all available seats, something we can’t find in existing buses. In terms of accessibility, the bus is also equipped with a wide door for passengers, so those who use wheelchairs can go on and off with no hassle. Compared to the existing bus, the area for wheelchair users is more spacious in this electric bus. Rest assured, this mode transportation will provide you a more pleasant bus-riding experience as well as being inclusive for all its users.

Area for wheelchair users in e-bus. Source: Berita Jakarta

The passenger seats are equipped with seat belts. Source: Kompas

The interior of an electric bus in Jakarta. Source: Berita Jakarta

During the trial period in Jakarta, there are two types of buses that were tested, they are:

Type K9

• The dimension is 12 meters long, 2.5 meters wide and 3.3 meters high.
• Has the capacity to carry 48 passengers.
• Equipped with an AC synchronous motor electric motor and BYD iron phosphate battery with a capacity of 324 kWh (iron phosphate is one of the environmentally friendly battery components and is available in abundance in nature).

Type C6

• The dimension is 7,403 mm long, 2,140 mm wide and 3.4 meters high.
• Has the capacity to carry 18 people.
• Equipped with an iron phosphate battery with a capacity of 135 kWH.

This shift to using electric buses in Jakarta is the implementation of a smart environment, one of the pillars that make up a smart city. Smart environment prioritizes the use of environmentally friendly energy, and by using electric buses, we can contribute to a positive transformation in our environment. Think about this, a bus can accommodate 28-40 people and this amount is equivalent to the capacity of 14-20 motorbikes and 7-40 private vehicles. Given this figure alone, we can already improve the air quality in Jakarta. We can even go beyond if all the buses are battery-powered and finally, fresh air with no pollution wouldn’t be just our wishful thinking. The government plans that by 2030, 80% of the TransJakarta fleet will switch to battery-powered vehicles. Let's support this movement for a better and greener Jakarta!