Beijing (ANTARA) – State railway operator PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) is exploring the use of battery-powered locomotives as part of its fleet modernization efforts and commitment to reducing emissions, the company’s Director, Bobby Rasyidin stated.“We’re in discussions with an industry partner in China about how they can support our fleet renewal. Most of our locomotives still run on diesel engines, and we’re looking to transition to electrification or battery-powered trains,” Rasyidin said in Beijing on Wednesday.He is accompanying Minister of Transportation Dudy Purwagandhi, Director General of Railways Allan Tandiono, and other officials on a working visit to Beijing, Qingdao, and several other cities in China to meet with the Chinese Minister of Transport and key players in the railway industry.“If electric cars are called EVs (electric vehicles), then these electric trains are known as e-trains. This technology can improve service efficiency, lower operational costs, reduce emissions, and strengthen KAI’s green initiatives,” he explained.Rasyidin noted that battery-powered trains could be deployed for both intercity and urban services, such as the Jabodetabek commuter rail.“In the past, electric trains had to be connected to overhead power lines. But with battery technology, trains can now operate independently. In China, e-locomotives like these are already widely used,” he said.He added that adopting battery-powered locomotives would mark a significant leap in KAI’s technological transformation.“We’re here to study the technology, operational schemes, and multimodal transport integration,” Rasyidin stated.However, he emphasized that no agreement has been made yet regarding the purchase of new train sets from China.“Procurement is certainly part of modernization, but it hasn’t been discussed in detail. Our current focus is on converting diesel locomotives to electric power,” he said.State-owned PT KAI currently operates hundreds of diesel locomotives of various types, including the CC202 and CC205 for coal transport in Sumatra, and the CC206 for freight and passenger services in Java.The company has also ordered 11 commuter train sets from China—eight of which are already in service, while the remaining three are undergoing technical feasibility tests before full deployment.
KAI explores battery-powered locomotives to modernize fleet
