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While the government dithers over a decision on whether to restrict subsidized fuel sales or hike the price at the pump, major auto manufacturers have expressed their support for proposals to roll out converter kits for cars to run on natural gas.

Johnny Darmawan, president of Toyota Astra Motor, cautions against rushing out just yet to get a converter kit, saying the necessary preparation needs to be done if the concept is to work.

“There needs to be diligent preparation for this. We can’t play around with advanced technology because it can be dangerous,” he says.

Before the aftermarket converter kits hit the shops, Johnny says, the government needs to ensure that it has enough refueling stations serving up compressed natural gas to meet demand.

“First there needs to be more [CNG] refueling stations everywhere, not just in Jakarta,” he says. “Provide sufficient facilities for motorists. Only then can you expect them to start using [natural] gas.”

Johnny cited the case of another alternative fuel push that never quite caught on in Indonesia: the gasoline-electric hybrid car.

“Take the case of the hybrid. When we introduced it here, the sales were low. Why? Because the infrastructure was lacking,” he says.

Another key to ensuring CNG’s success is providing incentives for motorists to make the switch, Johnny says.

“What can the government offer so that motorists use natural gas? There has to be something in it to attract people to use it,” he says.

He suggests implementing the scheme in public transportation vehicles first, citing the example of Singapore, where all taxis are required to run on natural gas.

Jongkie Sugiarto, president of Hyundai Indonesia, says his company is ready to get on board with the program.

“Hyundai is the only manufacturer licensed here to fit converters onto cars, so if there’s a program to do that, we’re ready for it,” he says.

Jongkie, who is also chairman of the Association of Indonesian Automotive Industries (Gaikindo), added, “My advice to the government is to call in all the producers, tell us what’s going on and let’s discuss it so that everything about the converter plan is clear and there are no question marks.”

He adds that should the plan go through and the converters are approved, motorists should have no worries about fitting them to their cars.

“As long as the car is still under warranty and the converter being fitted is approved, then it won’t void the warranty,” he says.