Hyundai Electric Buses Arrive in Bali

A Chaevi fast charger installed in Bali, Indonesia. (Provided by the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment) Korean-made electric buses and charging facilities are set to be introduced in Bali, one of Indonesia’s leading tourist destinations. The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment said it will hold a launch ceremony for a pilot project to deploy electric vehicles and charging infrastructure at Bajra Sandhi Monument in Bali on Oct. 22 local time. The project will be carried out under an official development assistance, or ODA, framework, with the core goal of establishing an eco-friendly public transportation system in the Bali region. Specifically, 11 electric buses from Hyundai Motor and six 100kW fast chargers from domestic charging operator Chaevi will be introduced locally. The initiative is intended to demonstrate the competitiveness of Korea’s green industry through a package-style market entry that supplies both vehicles and infrastructure at the same time. The government is placing significant emphasis on the project because competition for leadership in Indonesia’s electric vehicle market is intensifying. Indonesia is currently a strategic battleground where China’s electric vehicle maker BYD is continuing large-scale investment to secure an early lead. BYD recently announced plans to build a flash-charging network in Indonesia with capacity of up to 1500kW, openly signaling its intention to dominate the local ecosystem alongside new vehicle launches. Against this backdrop, there have been steady calls for Korean companies to enter the market not independently but through integrated solutions that bundle vehicles and chargers together. The Bali pilot project is expected to go beyond a simple vehicle export effort by building charging infrastructure as well, allowing local users to directly experience the convenience of a Korean-made electric vehicle system. The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment plans to use the Bali pilot project as an important foothold for expanding green industry exports not only across Indonesia but throughout Southeast Asia. There is analysis that a successful case in Bali, a destination popular with tourists, could lead to additional orders from nearby regions and countries. The government plans to continue supporting domestic companies so they can strengthen their presence in Southeast Asia’s eco-friendly transportation market through the project. In particular, it is expected to secure market share by highlighting the excellence of Korean technology and stable infrastructure operation capabilities in response to the aggressive push by Chinese companies.