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Everyone’s talking about EVs. Should I switch?
While Indonesia’s energy transition is not progressing as fast as hoped, there is a noticeable shift away from fuel oil on the consumer side, with trendsetters driving electric vehicles on the streets of the capital. The Jakarta Post asked some of them about their experiences.
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An electric car is plugged into a charging station. (Shutterstock/buffaloboy)
W
hile Indonesia’s energy transition is not progressing as fast as hoped, there is a noticeable shift away from fuel oil on the consumer side, with trendsetters driving electric vehicles (EVs) on the streets of the capital. The Jakarta Post asked some of them about their experiences.
Arwani Hidayat has been using a Hyundai KONA since 2021, which cost him Rp 697 million (US$46,500). The electric car’s 40-kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery gives him a week of use when fully charged.
The average EV battery capacity is more than 60 kWh, and some EVs on the market offer more than 100 kWh.
“I had been fascinated by electric cars and keen to have one to reduce air and noise pollution,” Arwani told the Post on Wednesday, adding he used the car for about 350 kilometers a week and the battery was “still in pristine condition” after two years.
Syahrul, who works as a driver-partner for Grab, has been using a Viar Q1 electric motorbike since last September, which he rents from the ride-hailing company.
On average, he travels some 1,000 km per week. He uses two replaceable batteries that take four to five hours and around 2.5 kWh of electricity each to fully charge. Together, they give him a range of approximately 120 km.
“I always charge my electric motorbike at home,” Syahrul said. “I enjoy using it, because it’s fuel-efficient and doesn’t produce air or noise pollution.”
