YOGYAKARTA-President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) gives his appreciation to the eSemar Xperimental electric car that has been developed by UGM. This is done when the President was testing the car at Gedung Agung Palace, Yogyakarta, Friday (25/5) evening.
President Yudhoyono was in Gedung Agung in order to lead the cabinet meeting whilst on his visit to Yogyakarta and Central Java. The President drove the electric car around the yard of Gedung Agung starting from the yard of the Government House (Wisma Negara) to the front of the Main Building. Accompanying the President on the car were, among others, Minister of Public Works, Djoko Kirmanto, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Jero Wacik, Minister of Youth and Sports, Andi Mallarangeng, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Hatta Rajasa, and State Secretary, Sudi Silalahi. "Smooth! There was no sound at all," President SBY said after the test drive to the Semar Team Coordinator, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering UGM and the electric car developer, Dr. Jayan Sentanuhady.
To reporters, President SBY hoped that the use of electric cars which is still limited on campus can be developed. The development of fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly cars, such as electric cars, currently becomes government’s program. "That is still used on a limited basis such as on-campus, the gym, etc. Going forward, this could be developed into a wider public transport and the government will assist the development of electric and hybrid cars," the President said.
Development of fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly transportation cannot be separated from several factors, such as mastery of science and technology, policy, and the role of the business world. Meanwhile, UGM Semar Team Coordinator, Dr. Jayan Sentanuhady, hoped that after the test drive by the President, the public will get to know that the University has been able to develop fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly transportation. "It is evident that UGM can make benefits for the community," Jayan said.
Together with several other universities, such as UI, ITB, and ITS, UGM will continue to develop electric cars. The UGM electric car launched in late March sits six. The body is made of composite fiber material with a 3 phase AC motor powered 48 volt as the main engine. Energy storage system uses deep cycle batteries and can run at speeds between 25-30 km/h. The battery can last for 6 hours at a distance of approximately 50 kilometers.