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Participants of the electric motorcycle tour in Pontianak City, West Kalimantan Province. (ANTARA/Dedi/uyu) - 

State-run electricity provider PT PLN (Persero) continues to massively promote the use of electric vehicles by holding a motorcycle tour in Pontianak City, West Kalimantan Province, along with several regional officials and motorcycle associations.

"Through the tour, we expect more number of people to be encouraged to immediately use electric motorbikes since they have been proven to be more efficient and environmentally friendly," West Kalimantan Regional Senior Manager of Commerce and Customer Management of PLN Rizal Azhari stated here on Friday.

Azhari assessed that the trend of using electric vehicles has continued to increase significantly with each passing year, thereby reflecting the high levels of enthusiasm among people to utilize efficient and environmentally friendly transportation mode.

To cover a distance of 60 kilometers (km), a conventional motorbike requires 1.5 liters of fuel that cost Rp11,250 (US$0.78), he noted. Meanwhile, an electric motorcycle can cover the same distance with only two kilowatt per hour (kWh) that cost Rp3,588 (US$0.25).

Hence, electric vehicles are much more economical.

Establishing an electric transportation ecosystem is PT PLN's commitment to supporting the government's program to support safe, green, and smart development, the official emphasized.

"We have provided 112 Electric Charging Stations (SPLU) and Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (SPKLU) at several strategic locations throughout West Kalimantan Province," he remarked.

Meanwhile, Head of the Pontianak City Environment Office, Saptiko, assessed that the electric vehicle tour has a huge impact on the environment by reducing carbon emissions.

Saptiko noted that high levels of carbon emissions will certainly affect climatic conditions since they increased the Earth's surface temperature and caused the ice to melt in the North and South poles.

Land transportation, especially vehicles that use fossil fuel, contribute majorly to the level of carbon emissions, the office head cautioned.

"In addition to providing efficiency, electric motors will improve our air quality. Hence, I urge people to start using electric motors,” he added//ANT