Reporting from CNBC suggests Bali is looking for new economic initiatives to diversify from the dependence on the tourism industry, which has led Governor I Wayan Koster to ask electric car manufacturers at the launch of the EV Smart Mobility Joint Project in Nusa Dua to build electric car factories on the island.
Bali already has Regulation Number 45 of 2019 concerning Clean Energy and Governor Regulation Number 48 of 2019 concerning the Use of Battery-Based Electric Motorized Vehicles as well as Regional Regulation (PERDA) regarding the General Plan of Regional Energy for the Province of Bali for 2020-2050.
“Other regions have not yet formed a governor’s regulation for clean energy, Bali already has one. So it feels strong if the industry can be implemented in the province of Bali,” said Koster.
In order to maximize the use of electric cars, Koster also plans to zone several areas.
“We will impose zoning for the use of KBLBB. Our plan is in Nusa Penida which is a tourist destination, then the Ubud, Sanur and Kuta areas. We will make them Battery-Based Electric Motor Vehicle (KBLBB) zones,” he explained.
He has also asked for a difference between the appearance, especially the exterior of electric vehicles in Bali, and other areas to attract tourists to use them.
“We have asked manufacturers to design electric motorized vehicles using local tastes to make them more attractive, so that they are not plain like other regions. Because Bali is an art area, so that the taste of art is displayed in motorized vehicles,” said Koster.
Talks with manufacturers are already underway. However, he did not reveal in detail the efforts to move electric vehicle manufacturers from other areas to Bali.
So far, Cikarang, West Java, is the centre for electric car manufacturing in Indonesia. Two manufacturers who plan to build factories in this region, are South Korea’s Hyundai and China’s Wuling.
Source: CNBC