Following the first 2-day workshop carried out on June 2-3, 2021, a second workshop on “E-bus Deployment: Technology Selection and Business Models” was conducted on August 31, 2021. The event was arranged by the World Bank, with the support of the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) and the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT). The workshop is a part of the World Bank technical assistance (TA) on “E-Mobility Adoption Roadmap for the Indonesian Mass Transit Program” funded by the Mobility and Logistics (MOLO) Trust Fund and the Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP). 

This 3.5-hour workshop was divided into two modules. During the first module, the team shared global knowledge on the selection of the most adequate technology to deploy battery electric buses (BEBs) and charging infrastructure in metropolitan areas. During the second module, potential business models to finance and operate BEBs and related charging infrastructure were discussed.

The attendees of this workshop were Government of Indonesia officials from national and provincial/city levels, electricity companies, e-bus manufacturers, charging infrastructure providers, e-mobility specialists and international participants from development agencies. There were around 140 participants (90 from Indonesia and the rest of them from other countries).

The discussions conducted during the workshop revealed that to accelerate BEBs adoption in Indonesia, the Government should: (i) build its own technical capacity on the crucial parameters to be considered for BEBs and charging infrastructure technology selection; (ii) continue promoting the implementation of more BEB pilots to better understand the BEBs performance and the barriers for their adoption; (iii) embrace innovative business model (split models) to adequately distribute risks between parties; (iv) provide additional policies and financial support to reduce the upfront cost of BEBs vis-à-vis diesel buses; (v) guarantee continuity of BEB services to attract larger players for BEBs deployment; and (vi) closely collaborate with original equipment manufacturer (OEM), charging infrastructure providers and public transport operators.