PORTALJABAR, BANDUNG CITY - The Bandung City Government is making the development of Bandung Angkot Utama a gateway to a blockchain-based digital economic ecosystem.

Bandung Mayor Muhammad Farhan said the development of the ecosystem begins with sectors that directly relate to community needs.

One of them is public transportation through the implementation of electric vehicles that support the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system.

"Bandung City is building a blockchain-based digital economy ecosystem. Six actors are involved. The entry point is the implementation of an electric transportation ecosystem that supports BRT," said Farhan at the Bandung City Hall on Wednesday (September 16, 2026).

According to Farhan, the electric transportation ecosystem includes vehicles, batteries, maintenance, safety, Public Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (SPKLU), and spare parts provision.

Bandung Angkot Utama will become part of Bandung City's transportation connectivity, connecting various modes of transportation.

This connectivity includes high-speed trains, intercity trains, toll roads, flights, BRT, and electric public transportation as feeder transportation.

"This is part of Bandung's connectivity, from high-speed rail, intercity trains, toll roads, flights, BRT, and electric public transportation as feeders," he said.

Farhan stated that the government would not take the position of a business actor in fleet procurement.

Vehicle procurement is carried out by Kopamas through Sole Brand Holder Agents (ATPM) or vehicle providers.

Meanwhile, the Bandung City Government plays a role in providing permits and supervising their implementation.

"The government is not allowed to engage in business. So, procurement is handled by Kopamas, purchasing from ATPMs or providers. The government only issues permits and carries out enforcement," he said.

He also ensured that the electric vehicle transformation was not intended to eliminate the livelihoods of existing public transportation drivers.

Electric vehicles are part of the fleet rejuvenation, while the drivers remain the same drivers who have been operating public transportation.

"These electric minibuses won't displace existing minibuses. They'll replace or rejuvenate existing vehicles. The drivers will remain the same," Farhan said.

Changes were also made to the driver's work pattern through a salaried driver system to reduce the focus on chasing deposits and the habit of waiting for deliveries.

The Bandung Angkot Utama fare is set at IDR 7,000 in accordance with applicable provisions with a non-cash payment system.

The fleet is also designed to have air conditioning, Wi-Fi, CCTV, and priority seats for people with disabilities.

The Head of the Bandung City Kopamas, Budi Kurnia, said that his party is ready to be part of the process of rejuvenating city transportation through electric vehicles.

Kopamas currently has around 475 vehicles, with two electric vehicles already in use in the trial phase.

One of the units has received an operating permit in the Husein Sastranegara International Airport area and has been in use for about a month.

Budi said the use of electric vehicles would be carried out in stages, with the long-term target of the entire Kopamas fleet switching to electric vehicles.

To support operations, the vehicles will use a pool system for centralized charging and maintenance.

The Bandung City Government and Kopamas will also map the locations of SPKLU needed to support fleet operations.

CEO of PT Sinergi Satu Daya, Sean Justin, said the development of Bandung Angkot Utama requires a supporting ecosystem from upstream to downstream.

Sean said that Famindo Group plays a role as a lead integrator in the development of the electric vehicle ecosystem.

This role includes developing a blueprint for the transition from fossil fuel-based vehicles to electric vehicles and providing charging infrastructure.

In developing the fleet in Bandung City, Famindo collaborates with Indomobil Photon to provide vehicles used in operations.

According to Sean, the safety aspect is important because electric vehicles use lithium batteries which require special handling in the event of an incident.

Therefore, battery safety and risk mitigation technologies are part of the ecosystem being prepared.

Sean emphasized that the collaboration was not merely a ceremony, but the beginning of the preparation of a measurable action plan and implementation.

These steps include risk mitigation in the operation of electric vehicles in Bandung City.

Sabdo Yusminartiarto, Founder and Chairman of the Indonesia Real World Asset Tokenization Association (Irwata), said that private sector involvement is necessary to realize Bandung's development as a digital financial and economic region.

Sabdo said that the Bandung City Government's statement regarding the development of Bandung as part of an international financial center needs to be followed by the involvement of the business world.

According to him, the preparation of clear implementation steps is necessary so that the idea can be realized concretely.

Blockchain technology, he said, could become a new infrastructure for building a more open and digitalized economic system.

The development of tokenized assets is one form of utilizing this technology in the digital economic ecosystem.

He also mentioned the development of instruments such as the rupiah stablecoin or NIDR as an opportunity in Indonesia's digital economy ecosystem.

"It's not enough for Bandung City to simply say it wants to become a PFI. It must provide a solid proposal to the central government that Bandung is truly ready," Sabdo said.

Collaboration between the government, business actors, and technology developers is expected to ensure that digital economic development does not stop at just a concept.

Bandung Angkot Utama is an example of an early implementation when technology, public transportation, and community economic activities are placed in one ecosystem.

(Bandung City Communications and Information Service/bhf)