Indonesia Calls for Transition to EV Following Air Pollution
Photo taken on Nov. 12, 2022 shows a Wuling new energy vehicle for the 17th Group of 20 (G20) Summit in Bali, Indonesia. Photo: Xinhua/Wang Yiliang
- By Xinhua News Agency
- August 16, 2023 2:11 PM
JAKARTA -- The Indonesian government called on its people to switch to electric vehicles (EV) to accelerate the transition to cleaner energy after severe air pollution hit Jakarta recently, a minister said on Tuesday.
Indonesian Minister of State-Owned Enterprises Erick Thohir said the recent air pollution in Jakarta, which the government said was the worst in the archipelagic country's history, was mainly caused by emissions from vehicles, industrial manufacturers and power plants.
"One of the solutions is to use alternative energy that is more environmentally friendly. Therefore, the government is pushing the transition from conventional fuel vehicles to electric vehicles," Thohir told a virtual seminar.
The air quality in Jakarta and its satellite cities has worsened over the past week. President Joko Widodo said Monday that as of Aug. 13, the air quality index in the capital was at 156, meaning very unhealthy. According to him, the biggest contributor to air pollution was the use of coal.
Thohir said that like it or not people must change their habits and one step to take should be to use electric motorbikes and cars.
