PT Honda Prospect Motor (HPM) is collaborating with Pertamina Patra Niaga and Pertamina New Renewable Energy to carry out research on the use of electric cars in commercial activities in urban areas. From this collaboration, Honda lent one unit of the Honda N-VAN EV Prototype to Pertamina.
The loan will last for three months. However, loans are not given for the operational benefit of workers at Pertamina, as is done by many other electric car manufacturers in Indonesia.
Instead of the electric car it will actually be used for the delivery of goods. Precisely the delivery of goods from the Pertamina Retail goods storage warehouse to 14 Bright Store locations in the Capital City area.
Kotaro Shimizu, President Director of PT HPM, said that the collaboration was indeed carried out to understand the needs of consumers and infrastructure in Indonesia as well as efforts to implement Honda’s electrification vision in Indonesia. He also said that previously Honda had also conducted a study by lending the Honda e to the University of Indonesia.
Borrowing Honda e was carried out to understand the use of electric cars for daily activities. This time, the Honda N-VAN Prototype was carried out to read logistical needs, which are often carried out in the capital city.
“This study will complement our learning, especially for the use of commercial activities. We really appreciate the support from Pertamina as one of the leading companies in Indonesia which has a vision in line with Honda to create environmentally friendly technology in the future,” he explained.
Main Director of Pertamina Patra Niaga Riva Siahaan, said that this collaboration was Pertamina Patra Niaga’s step through its subsidiary Pertamina Retail which operates the Bright Store, in encouraging the energy transition in the Non-Fuel Retail business line. This also encourages the utilization of SPKLU (Public Electric Vehicle Charging Stations) which are currently available at a number of Green Energy Station gas stations in the Jakarta area.
“Hopefully, through the use of an electric 4-wheeler type of freight car, it can create efficiency while contributing to reducing emissions in our Non-Fuel Retail business operations. As well as in the future encouraging other industry players to utilize SPKLU or charging stations at Pertamina’s Green Energy Station gas stations,” said Riva.
Dannif Danusaputro as the Main Director of Pertamina NRE said that, for Pertamina NRE this collaboration would be a strategic milestone because Pertamina NRE also has a focus on developing the battery ecosystem and electric vehicles in its business portfolio.
“We very much welcome the positive collaboration between Pertamina and Honda. Currently, Pertamina NRE is also participating in the battery and electric vehicle ecosystem through the Indonesia Battery Corporation. We believe that the collaboration of various parties will accelerate the development of the electric vehicle ecosystem in Indonesia,” explained Dannif
The Honda N-VAN EV prototype used in this research is a development of the Honda N-VAN car model, one of Honda’s most successful commercial vehicle models. First introduced to the Japanese market in 2018, N-VAN is widely used not only for personal use, but to meet mobility needs in business and commerce activities, especially in terms of delivering goods.
With a compact and agile design, the Honda N-VAN has become a popular choice among entrepreneurs and business people who need a compact vehicle with optimal payload capacity. The trunk space of the Honda N-VAN is easy to use because Honda removed the center pillar on the passenger side which allows for a larger opening on the front passenger side of the vehicle.
