"JAKARTA, March 20 (Reuters) - Indonesia will allocate 7 trillion rupiah ($455.88 million) in state funds to subsidise electric motorcycle sales through 2024"
It can't come soon enough. 2-stroke motorbikes have long been a major environmental issue in SE Asia. I backpacked through the region on 3 separate occasions during the late 80s to mid 90s, and the noise and air pollution from 2-stroke engines was really bad at the time.
I was never in Jakarta, but I imagine it would be similar to Bangkok. I still well remember, on Rama IV Rd, the image of 4 or 5 lanes of traffic taking off from the lights, peddle to the metal. First off the mark would be the motorbikes, mostly small 2-strokes (50cc to 125cc) that had all made their way to the front while the lights were red. They would be closely followed by some of the tuk-tuks (also 2-stroke) that had done the same, and then came the cars and remaining tuk-tuks. Following up the rear would be the buses. The noise was just incredible. People had to shout in each others ears if they wished to communicate during those 1st 15 to 20 seconds. A pawl of blue smoke would rise up over the intersection, a little later joined with black smoke as the buses passed through.
During much of the day, at the busiest intersections, traffic was directed by police who were also in direct control of the lights. Those poor b-----ds would be out there in the middle of the intersection under the blazing sun, in the deafening noise, and choking on fumes for hours at a time. No PPE - just their white gloves.
VMT Price at posting:
34.0¢ Sentiment: Hold Disclosure: Held
(20min delay)