T

he Jakarta administration has asked a United States delegation to help the city develop electric vehicles and power-generating stations fueled by liquefied natural gas (LNG) in an endeavor to minimize the use of dirtier fuel.

Acting governor Basuki '€œAhok'€ Tjahaja Purnama said that the US had excellent technology for developing LNG-fueled power stations and electric cars and that was why it was asked to invest and transfer it to local companies.

'€œThe US delegation offered to help Jakarta and Indonesia in general. There are many sectors that I am sure they can help us with, but I specifically asked them to help us develop electric cars and LNG-fueled power stations,'€ Ahok said after receiving the US delegation at City Hall on Monday.

An electric vehicle is powered by electric motors using energy stored in batteries or another energy storage device. Vehicles can be charged in the LNG-fueled power stations, among other places.

The US boasts the highest number of electric vehicles in the world. Many electric vehicle producers come from the US, such as the Ford Motor Company, Tesla Motors, Aptera Motors, General Motors and Advanced Battery Technologies.

The US government has long voiced its support for electric-vehicle development and given incentives to both producers and users. President Barack Obama has even pledged US$2.4 billion in federal grants to support the development of next-generation electric vehicles and batteries.

Using electric-powered vehicles can drastically reduce the use of and dependence on fossil fuels and help save the environment.

'€œWe want to follow America'€™s footsteps and campaign for the use of electric vehicles, not only for private vehicles but also for mass public transportation such as buses,'€ Ahok said.

He went on to say that he also asked the US to construct several LNG-fueled power stations with capacities of 10 to 15 megawatts in Jakarta and asked them to make use of the city'€™s existing gas pipes.

'€œWe have many gas pipes that can be developed as part of a gas-fueled power station. I have asked them to help us with this,'€ Ahok said. He added that another possible sector that the US might explore in Jakarta is the construction of airports and seaports.

Separately, US Deputy Ambassador Christine Bauer said she was satisfied with the meeting and hoped to continue cooperation with Jakarta.

'€œI think the meeting went quite well. [We discussed] possible ways that American business and companies can participate in the development of Jakarta. There are a wide variety of possible investments in which our companies can work together with local companies in Indonesia,'€ Bauer said after the meeting.

She, however, refused to further discuss the meeting and said that the US would continue to meet with the city administration to follow up on Tuesday'€™s discussion.

'€œWe will continue to have meetings, but we will discuss specific sectors,'€ Bauer concluded.