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Buying an electric vehicle remains challenging for many consumers. High prices and limited access to charging stations can make it a difficult decision, especially in emerging markets like Indonesia. VOA’s Ahadian Utama reports.
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((PLAYBOOK SLUG: TV Emerging Markets EVs – Utama
HEADLINE: The Challenges of Driving Electric in Indonesia
TEASER:
PUBLISHED AT:
BYLINE: Ahadian Utama
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Jakarta
VIDEOGRAPHER: Ahadian Utama, Indra Yoga
VIDEO EDITOR: Ahadian Utama
SCRIPT EDITORS: Kenochs; Bowman
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA Original
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO __
TRT: 2:56
VID APPROVED BY: KE
TYPE: TVPKG
EDITOR NOTES: This script sent to Nova Poerwadi for approval))
((INTRO))
[[Buying an electric vehicle remains challenging for many consumers. High prices and limited access to charging stations can make it a difficult decision, especially in emerging markets like Indonesia. VOA’s Ahadian Utama reports.]]
((NARRATOR))
Luthfi - who like many Indonesians only goes by one name – is test driving a Wuling Air EV, a Chinese-made electric car.
((Luthfi, Car Buyer)) (male, in Indonesian)
"This is my first time driving an electric car... it's unique... it looks small but it's not (small) inside, just like a normal car... the driving feel is also good, it's quiet, especially the acceleration... it’s very instant..."
((NARRATOR))
Wuling Motors, based in southern China, launched its flagship vehicle in Indonesia in August 2022. With a price range of 16,000 to 20,000 U.S. dollars.
It's currently the cheapest EV sold in Indonesia, with a price point Luthfi says works for him.
((Luthfi, Car Buyer)) (male, in Indonesian)
" My first consideration is definitely the price... then the number of charging stations... and the battery warranty...”
((NARRATOR))
Gasoline powered cars still dominate the streets of Jakarta and other major Indonesian cities, but that is changing.
((Dian Asmahani, Wuling Motors Indonesia)) (female, in Indonesian)
"We are optimistic that the electric car market in Indonesia will grow, because by looking at what is currently available, when we launched the Air-EV the response was extraordinary... we have currently sold more than 3,000 units and the waiting list to buy is 1-2 months long…"
((NARRATOR))
According to the Indonesian Automotive Industry Association, GAIKINDO, sales of battery-based electric cars in Indonesia topped 7,900 units from January to November 2022. That was almost eight times 2021's total. Wuling Air EVs made up about 5,900 of last year’s sales.
Wuling Motors partly credits government efforts to incentivize EVs, including its push to produce locally sourced car batteries.
((Dian Asmahani, Wuling Motors Indonesia)) (female, in Indonesian)
“We can see that government policies are good enough to accelerate vehicle electrification, and the public is responding positively to electric cars …”
((NARRATOR))
The second best-selling EV is South Korean manufacturer Hyundai’s Ioniq 5, which sold more than 1,700 units in the past year. The Ioniq 5 and the Wuling Air EV were the official vehicles of the G20 Summit in Bali last November to showcase the Joko Widodo administration’s push for EVs.
((Budi Karya Sumadi, Minister for Transportation)) (male, in Indonesian)
"There are 3 things we have to think about... first how to make a battery that is cheap but has a high cruising range, the second is an efficient motor and the third is to increase the number of charging stations."
((NARRATOR))
The government is hoping the private sector can help expand charging stations, which currently number fewer than 400 across the country.
From Jakarta, Indonesia, Ahadian Utama, VOA News.
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateJanuary 27, 2023 07:21 EST
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
