Indonesia: Trans Semarang to add 27 electric buses to its fleet
Trans Semarang, a public transport provider in Semarang (Central Java), Indonesia, has announced plans to deploy 27 electric city buses. The first batch has been put into operation and the remaining units will be deployed in phases later this year.
Image: VKTR
Homegrown companies VKTR and Laksana Bus Manufaktur have partnered to supply new electric buses to public transport operator Trans Semarang. Laksana Bus Manufaktur manufactures the electric bus bodies while VKTR assembles the vehicles.
VKTR President Director, A. Ardiansyah Bakrie, noted, “This is not just about vehicles, but also about how local manufacturing, bus body production, supply chains, workforce, and industrial capabilities can grow together in building Indonesia’s electric vehicle ecosystem.”
According to Stefan Arman, Laksana Bus Manufaktur’s Technical Director, each electric bus will cost around 4 to 4.5 billion rupiah (approx. 198,000 to 223,000 euros), which would put the total cost of the 27 units at 108 to 121.5 billion rupiah (approx. 5.3 to 6 million euros).
The first two electric buses are twelve-metre low-floor units with a capacity of 60 passengers. They feature a battery pack with an energy storage capacity of around 340 kWh and can travel up to 250 kilometres on a single charge. However, Arman expects Trans Semarang to maintain the state of charge between 20 and 100 per cent to preserve battery health, resulting in a lower operating range of approximately 200 to 240 kilometres.
Trans Semarang is operating the twelve-metre electric buses initially on its Corridor 1 route, connecting Mangkang Terminal with Penggaron Terminal, which spans approximately 29 kilometres. It is waiving fares on these buses until 14 October as an introductory offer.
The public transport operator plans to add at least three electric buses each week, aiming to have the entire fleet of 27 units in operation by early November, said Haris Setyo Yunanto, head of Trans Semarang. He said they opted for a low-floor design because elderly passengers account for around 7,000, or 20 per cent, of the average 35,000 people travelling on its buses daily.
Commenting on Semarang’s new initiative, Mayor Agustina Wilujeng Pramestuti said, “The City of Semarang is committed to continuously providing public transportation that is more comfortable, cleaner, and environmentally friendly. The introduction of Trans Semarang electric buses is a concrete step toward realising this commitment and providing the public with healthier and more sustainable mobility options”.
vktr.id, jateng.akurat.co (in Indonesian), jateng.antaranews.com (in Indonesian, re. remaining buses and low-floor design)
