Indonesian Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi (left) and Indonesian Minister of Education and Research and Technology Nadiem Anwar Makarim proudly inaugurate the Red and White Electric Bus for the G20 Summit in Bali

ITS Campus – ITS News – The Red and White Electric Bus was officially launched by the Indonesian Minister of Education, Culture, Research and Technology (Mendikbudristek) Nadiem Anwar Makarim together with the Indonesian Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi for the operation of the G20 Summit (KTT) in Denpasar, last Sunday (13/11). In this case, Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) also took a big role in making the electric bus.

In developing research and innovation in higher education, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology (Kemdikbudristek) cooperates with PT Industri Kereta Api (INKA). This collaboration creates 30 units of Red and White Electric Buses that will be used at the 2022 G20 Summit.

The G20 momentum is a good momentum for Indonesia to show the superiority of the nation’s work. At the launch, Nadiem revealed that Indonesia was able to take the stage by presenting the best work from academics and students. One of them is through this electric bus.

In his explanation separately, The Vice Rector IV for Research, Innovation, Cooperation, and Alumni ITS, Bambang Pramujati ST MSc Eng PhD, revealed that ITS role here is as a leading institution in a consortium of higher education institutions. “The consortium consists of four universities including ITS, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), Universitas Airlangga (Unair), and Institut Seni Indonesia (ISI) Denpasar,” he explained.

ITS Rector Prof Dr Ir Mochamad Ashari MEng (center) and ITS Vice Rector IV Bambang Pramujati STM MSC Eng PhD (right) also attended the launch of the Red and White Electric Bus

Furthermore, seven ITS lecturers were also sent as researchers on this electric bus. In line with being a campus that is known for its technological prowess, ITS as a leading institution also contributes to its technological research. “The lecturers involved in the consortium have backgrounds from different study programs, so that universities can complement each other,” said Bambang.

Besides, the construction of the Red and White Electric Bus also involved apprentice students from various universities. “That way, students are expected to be able to see firsthand the production process and implement the knowledge gained while in college,” explained the Mechanical Engineering lecturer.

The real form of Kemdikbudristek support is reflected in research funding, namely the matching fund program. The program encourages students to gain work experience off campus. This is realized by collaborating with PT INKA to invite students to work and work.

The Minister of Education and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia, Nadiem Anwar Makarim, along with the research lecturers from various universities after inaugurating the Red and White Electric Bus in Bali

The design of the bus made by the nation’s children is estimated in the implementation of the Domestic Component Level (TKDN) of 75 percent. This reflects that the Red and White Electric Bus really supports research, and its development is controlled by the Indonesian people.

As the first electric bus developed by Indonesian people, of course, it has received a lot of appreciation. In fact, according to Bambang, the Ministry of BUMN through PT Damri expressed interest in this electric bus to operate in Bandung and Surabaya in the future.

It doesn’t stop at the G20 Summit, Bambang wants the Red and White Electric Buses to be used for the benefit of society in a sustainable manner. “Wide use is of course very possible, such as for school shuttle buses, airport buses, and so on,” he hoped in the end. (ITS Public Relations)