Yogyakarta City Government to Fund 700 Electric Becaks

Yogyakarta Mayor Hasto Wardoyo announced plans to significantly expand the city's electric becak (rickshaw) fleet, allocating a dedicated budget to transform the local transportation landscape into a more environmentally friendly system. This initiative aims to bolster the presence of electric becaks, which are seen as a sustainable alternative to traditional transport.

The city's commitment to electric becaks was underscored following the official launch of these vehicles by Minister of Finance Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa and Governor of DIY Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X on July 16, 2026. Wardoyo noted that the current fleet of 320 electric becaks is insufficient, particularly for high-traffic areas like Malioboro, where an estimated 700 additional units are needed.

To bridge this gap, the municipal government is actively seeking partnerships with State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) for fleet assistance. Concurrently, the city is preparing a contingency fund from the regional budget, with an estimated Rp 10-15 billion required to approach the target of 1,000 electric becaks by next year. This calculation is based on the current market price of approximately Rp 35 million per unit.

Beyond simply increasing the number of vehicles, the Yogyakarta administration is focused on building a comprehensive supporting ecosystem. This includes establishing 12 charging stations and deploying three mobile repair units to ensure the operational sustainability of the electric becaks. The placement of charging facilities will be determined in consultation with becak drivers to ensure optimal accessibility. The electrification of traditional transport in Yogyakarta has also received support from the Ministry of Finance, which provided a grant of 80 electric becaks through the Government Investment Center (PIP). Ary Tjahyono, President Director of PT Langit Biru Istimewa (LBI), the producer of the electric becaks, emphasized that the program is designed to enhance the productivity and income of traditional becak drivers, enabling them to compete effectively with motorized vehicles.