Hello, World! Electrum’s Journey Begins Here

Hello, World! Electrum’s Journey Begins Here

In Jakarta, with an estimated 16 million motorcycles crowding the streets and air pollution levels 4.5 times above WHO guidelines, Electrum is working towards a cleaner future. Imagine a city where the air is clean, traffic moves smoothly, and electric motors replace the noise of gasoline engines. This is not just a vision—we are making it happen.

Hello, I am Andi Abdullah Pangeran, Principal Software Engineer at Electrum. My journey with Electrum began when I realized the significant impact we could make on urban environments through technology. As someone who breathes the same air in Jakarta, joining Electrum was my chance to be part of the solution. Today, I am excited to share our story and the strides we are making to transform urban transportation in Jakarta.

Understanding the Market

We knew we had to start from the ground up to earn our place in the automotive industry. Our first step was getting to know Jakarta's ride-hailing drivers, who comprise a significant portion of the city’s motorcyclists. Through countless conversations and rides, we discovered their top concerns:

  • Short charging times
  • Solutions that do not spike home electricity bills
  • Affordable options, as battery costs can be a deal-breaker

A study by Populix, "Electric Vehicle Dynamics: Unveiling Consumer Perspectives and Market Insights," highlighted additional concerns:

  • Battery life during travel
  • Limited travel range
  • Lack of repair shops for non-electric issues
  • Inadequate charging infrastructure
  • Scarce charging stations

With these insights, we crafted our solutions to address the specific needs and concerns of our target users, ensuring our approach is both practical and impactful.

Our Solutions

With a clear understanding of these challenges, we developed a three-pronged strategy focused on convenient charging, affordability, and reliability to meet user needs and drive the transition to electric vehicles.

Convenient Charging

We introduced swappable batteries and an extensive network of swap stations to provide a convenient charging experience. Users can exchange empty batteries for fully charged ones at numerous locations across Jakarta, with payments based on the kWh difference. For those preferring home charging, we offer home charging kits.

"Electrum's swap stations have transformed my daily routine," said Adi, a Gojek driver in Jakarta. "I now spend less time and money on fuel and maintenance. The convenience of swappable batteries allows me to serve more customers and increase my earnings while contributing to a cleaner environment."

Affordability

We tackled affordability head-on by decoupling vehicle and battery costs to reduce the upfront investment. We offer several options to suit different needs:

  • Full Ownership: Purchase both the bike and battery together.
  • Monthly Rental Plan: Manageable monthly payments for battery rentals.
  • Occasional Riders: Own the bike and rent the battery without a monthly fee, paying a higher cost per swap/charging.

For ride-hailing drivers, we recognized the need for an affordable option other than direct motorcycle purchases. Thus, we offer cost-effective rental programs with daily payments, lowering the financial barrier to EV adoption.

"Switching to Electrum's daily rental plan has been a game-changer," said Siti, a Gojek driver. "The daily payments align perfectly with my income flow, and I no longer worry about fuel costs, making my transition to electric vehicles smooth and financially manageable."

Reliability

We ensure reliability through advanced technology for durability and optimal battery performance. IoT sensors and data analytics enable proactive maintenance, while expanding partnerships provide reliable support services. Over-the-air updates offer continuous improvements, and sophisticated battery health management algorithms keep operations running smoothly.

Our Progress So Far

Here is how our solutions have contributed to making Jakarta a more livable city through EV use:

  • Number of Motorcycles: Our fleet boasts over 2,500 electric motorcycles.
  • Total Daily Distance Travelled: These motorcycles cover 100,000 kilometers daily, equivalent to circling the Earth more than twice every day.
  • Carbon Emissions Reduction: These motorcycles helps reduce carbon emissions by an estimated 1.16 tons per year compared to gasoline-powered equivalents. This means our current fleet's reduction is equivalent to planting approximately 63,966 trees annually.

Detailed Emissions Calculation (Click to Expand)

Total Annual Distance Traveled

  • Daily Distance: 100,000 km/day
  • Annual Distance: 100,000 km/day × 365 days/year = 36,500,000 km/year

Annual Electricity Consumption

  • Energy Consumption per km: 0.15 kWh/km
  • Annual Electricity Consumption: 36,500,000 km/year × 0.15 kWh/km = 5,475,000 kWh/year

Emissions from Electricity Consumption

  • Emission Factor: 0.817 kg CO2e/kWh
  • Total Emissions: 5,475,000 kWh/year × 0.817 kg CO2e/kWh = 4,473,075 kg CO2e/year

Gasoline Equivalent Emissions

  • Energy Content of Gasoline: 8.9 kWh/liter
  • Gasoline Equivalent: 4,473,075 kg CO2e/year ÷ 8.9 kWh/liter = 502,593 liters/year
  • Emission Factor for Gasoline: 2.31 kg CO2e/liter
  • Avoided Emissions: 502,593 liters/year × 2.31 kg CO2e/liter = 1,160,989 kg CO2e/year

Conversion to Metric Tons

  • Avoided Emissions in Metric Tons: 1,160,989 kg CO2e/year ÷ 1,000 = 1,161 tons CO2e/year

Tree Equivalency Calculation

  • CO2 Sequestration per Tree: 36.3 lbs/year
  • Annual Avoided Emissions in Pounds: 1,161 tons × 2,000 lbs/ton = 2,321,980 lbs
  • Trees Needed to Offset Emissions: 2,321,980 lbs ÷ 36.3 lbs/tree = 63,967 trees

These calculations show how switching to Electrum's electric motorcycles helps reduce carbon emissions.

While our tree equivalency estimates offer a general idea of the emissions avoided, the actual number may vary depending on tree species. Beyond CO2 sequestration, tree planting also improves air quality, supports biodiversity, and prevents soil erosion.

Our Technology Stack

Driving this progress is our robust technology infrastructure. In the coming weeks, we will share in-depth looks at various aspects of our tech stack, including:

  • Setting Up Tech Infrastructure Foundation: Using Infrastructure as Code (IaC), Terraform, and Kubernetes to build a scalable foundation.
  • Establishing a Robust Monitoring System: Implementing Victoria Metrics, Loki, and Grafana for comprehensive system performance insights.
  • Cost Optimization Strategies: Leveraging EKS, Kubernetes, Karpenter, and AWS Graviton for efficiency and cost minimization.
  • Building Our Own IoT Platform: Developing a custom IoT solution for electric vehicle fleet management.
  • Enhancing Analytics Capabilities: Using Postgres, Kafka, Benthos, and ClickHouse to turn raw data into actionable insights.
  • Creating a Seamless Transactional Engine: Utilizing workflow engines like Temporal for reliable transactions across our system.

By continually refining our technology stack and expanding our capabilities, we are actively shaping the future of urban transportation.

Join Us in Shaping Jakarta's Future

At Electrum, we're committed to transforming urban transportation and contributing to a more sustainable future. Whether you're a potential partner, an early adopter, or someone passionate about the environment, we invite you to join us on this exciting journey.

  • Interested in partnering with us? Let's connect to discuss collaboration opportunities.
  • Ready to make the switch to electric? Visit our website to learn more about our offerings.
  • Have questions or feedback? We'd love to hear from you in the comments below.

References:

  1. Number of Registered Motorcycles in Jakarta Increases to 16 Million
  2. Jakarta Air Pollution Levels
  3. Populix. (2023). "Electric Vehicle Dynamics: Unveiling Consumer Perspectives and Market Insights."
  4. Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry. (2023). Carbon Emission Reduction Estimates.
  5. Estimating Climate Impacts: Case Study - Jakarta’s ZeroEmission Bus Trial
  6. Understanding Electric Vehicle (EV) Fuel Equivalents.