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Gojek to deploy 5,000 e-motorbikes in second EV trial
Gojek is inching closer to its 2030 net zero goal with a plan to trial 5,000 electric motorbikes for its delivery and transportation services, starting with 500 in South Jakarta.
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H
omegrown ride-hailing giant Gojek announced on Wednesday that it would trial 5,000 electric motorcycles, starting with 500 in South Jakarta, as part of its long term fleet electrification plans.
Gojek chief transportation officer Raditya Wibowo said drivers would need to pay a daily rental fees for the electric motorcycles, which would be made by Indonesia's Gesit and Taiwan's Gogoro.
“We want to know the experience of drivers and consumers while using the motorbikes. Do drivers really save money from not buying gas? Is it comfortable? And so on,” he told reporters at a press conference.
While the start date of the trial has not been made public, Raditya said customers would soon be able to order rides or services from electric motorcycle drivers through the Gojek app.
Gojek committed in May to making its fleet entirely electric by 2030 to become a carbon-neutral company by the end of the decade, but the company did not provide details on the plan.
The decacorn launched its first electric vehicle (EV) test in July 2019, in which auto giant PT Astra International provided Honda PCX Electric motorbikes to some Gojek drivers in Jakarta.
Gojek’s competitor Grab, which has also announced net-zero emissions commitments, recently placed an order for 6,000 electric motorbikes from local manufacturer Viar Motor Indonesia. The Singapore-based company plans to distribute the vehicles to drivers throughout Indonesia by the end of this year.
Raditya added that the company would partner with state-owned energy company Pertamina to provide e-motorbike battery swapping stations at four gas stations in South Jakarta.
“The downside of electric motorcycles is that the charging infrastructure is still inadequate. Drivers worry about running out of battery, and it takes them one to two hours to charge, making them lose money,” he said.
Gojek co-CEO Kevin Aluwi said the company wanted to reach a total of 1 million kilometers traveled during its second EV trial.
“EV commercial trials are a manifestation of our sustainability commitment to becoming a carbon neutral company by 2030,” he told reporters during an online press conference. “To show our commitment, Gojek will establish an independent business unit that focuses on electric vehicles.”
Read also: Going green? Gojek reports 1.04m tons carbon footprint in 2020, aims for 2030 net zero
Kevin went on to say that aside from ride-hailing, customers would be able to choose electric motorcycles for other Gojek services, such as food delivery, logistics, and online shopping.
“This is one of our most ambitious projects,” he said.
