Jakarta. Blue Bird, Indonesia's largest listed taxi operator, introduced its first electric taxi fleet on Monday, claiming to be the first taxi company in the country that has gone electric. 

The company has held its own against the onslaught of online ride-hailing services in the past four years. The introduction of its first all-electric car fleet may give it an edge against big-money ride-hailing services like Go-Jek and Grab. 

Blue Bird already has 25 made in China BYD e6 A/T electric cars ready for its regular taxi service.

The same car has been used for taxis in Shenzhen since 2010. Other cities like Bogota, Brussels, Chicago, London, New York and Rotterdam followed suit in subsequent years. 

Blue Bird will also use five Tesla model X 75D A/T cars for its premium taxi service Silverbird.

It expects to have 200 electric cars as part of its fleet by the end of next year. Currently, the company operates more than 25,000 taxis across Indonesia. 

"Through this innovative electric car breakthrough, Bluebird not only aims to improve service quality and customer convenience but also commits ourselves to support environmental preservation, especially in improving air quality in Jakarta," said Noni Purnomo, the president director of parent company Blue Bird Group Holdings. 

Noni said Blue Bird also collaborates with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and Jagha Bumi for the One Ride One Seed program, in which part of the fares paid by passengers of Blue Bird and Silverbird electric taxis will be used to plant trees on the banks of Jakarta's Ciliwung River.

This program will start in June 2019 with a target of planting more than 2,000 trees.

Blue Bird director Adrianto Djokosoetono said using electric cars will help Indonesia reduce its dependence on fossil fuel and curb carbon emissions.

If it sticks to its plan to have at least 200 electric cars by 2020, Adrianto said Blue Bird will eliminate more than 434,000 kilograms in carbondioxide emissions and cut fuel consumption by 1.9 million liters. 

2000 more electric cars from 2020 to 2025 will eliminate 21.7 million kilograms in CO2 emissions and cut fuel consumption by 94.9 million liters.