Electric Scooter: Eccentric Vehicle for Short Distance Travel

Switching to an electric vehicle does not necessarily mean you have to buy an electric car right away. Riding an electric scooter can be a bridge to a green-energy lifestyle.

RIZA FATHONI

Two citizen ride electric scooter on pedestrian in Bendungan Hilir, Central Jakarta, Thursday (14/11/2019).

The electric scooter driven by Eggie Herdianto (37) crossed the sidewalks of the main streets in Bekasi City on Thursday night (29/9/2022). There was no roaring sound from the engine of the scooter. It was so quiet. The red indicator light mounted on the rear wheel of the scooter and the use of a helmet indicated that he was driving on the road. When passing by a number of people on the sidewalk, Eggie often rang the bell.

That night, the main road was quite congested. He chose to ride on sidewalks for safety and security reasons. However, Eggie often had to get off from the sidewalk because it was occupied by street vendors or used as a parking lot. In such conditions, the scooter must be guided. “On the sidewalk, there is minimal risk. We have to be aware that the scooter is the smallest vehicle on the street. So, our position must be at the side and should be at a maximum speed of 25 kilometers per hour,” said Eggie.

The journey from his office to Bekasi train station, which is about 5 km, took about 15 minutes. Arriving at the station, his hands deftly folded the scooter. The 19-kilogram scooter was then carried to the escalator.

If the battery is 100 percent charged, the Segway-Ninebot Kickscooter MAX G30P scooter can reach a distance of 65 km.

Arriving at Rawa Buntu railway station, Eggie continued his journey by scooter to his house, about 10 km from the station. So, the total distance to commute to work using a scooter is 30 km.

If the battery is 100 percent charged, the Segway-Ninebot Kickscooter MAX G30P scooter can reach a distance of 65 km. Thus, Eggie only needs to charge the battery once every two days.

As an entrepreneur, Eggie is required to be agile in moving from one meeting location to another. Faced with these conditions, scooters become a formidable travel companion. In fact, when out of town, scooters are also "on duty". The scooter is only not used during heavy storms for fear of being buffeted by strong winds.

Benefit

Switching to an electric scooter was one of Eggie's best decisions to cope with traffic congestion. Previously, he had to struggle with traffic jams in a car. Previously, almost every day, he got up early to get ready for work and left early in the morning. More than three hours wasted on the road.

With an electric scooter, the travel time can be cut short. "Wherever I go, from station to station, or to go to a meeting anywhere, there is no problem. The important thing is to bring a plug to charge the battery. The maintenance is also easy and there is no problem,” he said cheerfully.

KOMPAS/DWI BAYU RADIUS

Chairman of Glisser Scooter Club Joey Inkiriwang (middle) with two members of other club, Kaabo Nation, Ary Prasetyo (left) dan Marcel Dompas ride electric scooter in an housing area in Lebak Bulus, Jakarta, Thursday (30/7/2020).

The rise in fuel prices have also prompted a number of people to switch to electric scooters. For example, Opik (23) can save fuel costs for a motorcycle of up to Rp 600,000 (US$49) per month. He only pays for the commuter train. His electricity bill has also not increased significantly although he charges his scooter at home.

Unlike Eggie and Opik, who use scooters for short-distance transportation, Joey Inkiriwang (41) uses his scooter for a long distance. Almost every day he rides a scooter from his home in Bintaro to his office in Lebak Bulus. The 14-km distance is covered in 15-20 minutes. During that journey, he has to stand on the scooter to break through the traffic congestion.

Another convenience when using a scooter is that you do not have to think about parking, gasoline and routine servicing.

He does not feel tired even though he has to stand along the way. For him, it was much more tiring to drive a car in the traffic. Another convenience when using a scooter is that you do not have to think about parking, gasoline and routine servicing. “I can save up to Rp 3 million per month for daily transportation. It's much more economical than bringing a car,” said Joey, who is also chairman of the Glisser Scooter Club.

Not only in Jakarta, Ila (39), a resident of Lowokwaru District, Malang City, also uses electric scooters to shop at the market, take her children to school, and support her husband who is a chicken vendor.

In addition to being smaller than a motorcycle and lighter, this means of transportation is also more practical. She only needs to charge the battery for six hours, no need to think about fuel costs.

Safety

As users of electric scooters for daily transportation, Eggie and Opik are members of the Scooter to Work (STW ) club. Currently the community has 37 members. Once a month they hold a meeting to exchange information with fellow electric scooter riders, from accessories and safety, to scooter repairs.

"We always remind riders to wear a helmet, use a light indicator, a bell and not to speed," said Anno, the nickname of Sukarno, the founder of STW.

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

Some members of Skuter to Work community took a rest in Blok M, Jakarta, Friday (30/9/2022).

Anno’s advice is in accordance with the requirements for the safety of electric scooters in Transportation Ministerial Regulation No. 45/2020 concerning vehicles using electric motors. According to the regulation, a scooter should be equipped with headlights, rear reflectors, reflectors on the left and right, brakes that work properly, and a horn or a bell .

Public transportation observer Djoko Setijowarno has predicted that, in the future, electric scooters have the potential to become a transportation mode that is widely used by residents for short distances or connecting with other public transportation.

According to the CEO of Erajaya Active Lifestyle, the distributor of the Segway-Ninebot Kickscooter D series, Djohan Sutanto, the electric scooter market in Indonesia is quite promising because it can be used as an alternative for short-distance travel especially for those who live in urban areas. "We believe the trend of using an electric vehicle will grow. The awareness about environmentally friendly and efficient means of transportation will make an electric scooter an attractive option for short-distance travel," said Djohan.

Of the many types of transportation modes, an electric scooter can be a tough alternative. However, it needs to be supported by safety education and adequate infrastructure.

This article was translated by Hendarsyah Tarmizi.