Bali’s Fleet Of Electric Cars For G20 Summit Promotes Green Future For All

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In November 2022, Bali will be hosting the G20 Summit. The 2-day conference will see leaders from the world’s 20 biggest economies arrive in Bali to discuss solutions around the summit’s priority themes: global health architecture, sustainable energy transition, and digital transformation.

Bali is determined to pioneer sustainable energy solutions at the G20 Summit that can be integrated across the island, and the country in the years to come. On Wednesday 8th June Indonesian President Joko Widodo took a test drive of a Hyundai Genesis, the electric car that will be used by world leaders and their delegations during the conference.

The car received the seal of approval from Jokowi and Ibu Iriana. The President was joined by the Minister of Investment, Bahlil Lahadalia, the Minister of Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya Bakar, and the Minister of State-Owned Enterprises, Erick Thohir.

The state visit and press tour of the Batang Integrated Industrial Estate in Batang was an opportunity for the government to demonstrate its commitment to a green future for all. As the country looks to generate more renewable power, create innovative solutions to waste management, and generate more stable jobs in the renewable energy, tech and tourism sectors.

President Widodo said ‘I tried the Genesis electric car from Hyundai. I thought it was smooth, there was no sound’. The fleet of electric cars heading to Bali for the G20 will all be manufactured in Indonesia. In early 2022, Korea-based Hyundai opened its first factory in Indonesia.

The factory was designed specifically for the manufacture of electric vehicles. From start to finsh the whole process of building an electric car can be achieved in Indonesia.

The biggest barrier to the mass rollout of electric cars across Indonesia is the cost. Currently, electric cars are incredibly expensive, President Widodo hopes that within a few years costs will be able to be reduced significantly resulting in electric cars becoming more affordable for the average person.

He said ‘…almost 50 percent of the price of the car is indeed the cost of the battery so that when you use the latest technology, the price of the battery will become cheaper and cheaper. Moreover, if it is built-in Indonesia…everything is done from upstream to downstream the car will be able to be reduced the cheapest cost so that it is competitive. I think it’s just a matter of technology”.

Technology is indeed key and with tech giants like Tesla’s Elon Musk joining the G20 events, investment in Indonesia’s green economy could be about to soar. This would be a huge boost for areas like Bali that already facilitate a huge amount of international activity.

It is hoped that the lasting legacy of the G20 Summit in Bali will be a positive and environmentally sustainable one. The arrival of a sizeable fleet of electric cars, although initially for VIP use, will improve the infrastructure across the island.

As Indonesia’s middle-class increases and investment in the green economy improves, electric cars are not out of reach as an investment for both local people and long-term foreign residents in Bali. Widespread use of electric cars in Bali would help improve air pollution significantly and reduce noise levels in busy areas too.

Bali has recently invested huge sums of money into increasing the toll road network to try and bypass traffic from central Denpasar. Solar panels have been installed across the new stretch of the toll roads in South Bali. The infrastructure for renewable energy for use by all is steadily being rolled out across the island.

Although electric cars won’t be the norm in Bali for a few years this week’s announcement of the fleet of electric cars for the G20 Summit and President Widow’s enthusiastic seal of approval marks a big step forward in ensuring that Bali and Indonesia are pioneers of the global tradition towards sustainable energy use.