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Govt prepares e-motorcycle battery, safety standards
A lack of security features on electric motorcycles, particularly on models that use swap batteries, has made it easier to steal their batteries.
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Officials exchange electric motorcycle batteries at a Public Electric Vehicle Battery Exchange Station (SPBKLU) at Electrification Directorate General building in Jakarta, on Aug. 31, 2020. (JP/Dhoni Setiawan/Adi/Dyn)
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mid an uptick in electric motorcycle battery theft, the National Standardization Agency (BSN) has said it plans to standardize e-motorcycle batteries and their safety features to reduce theft.
According to reports, the first case of e-motorcycle battery theft occurred in mid-2023 and the rate has grown into 2024. The main targets have been vehicles with lithium, NMC and LFP batteries.
The main factor behind the thefts was the lack of anti-theft features, particularly on models that used swap batteries. Experienced thieves are able to pry off parts of such motorcycles to open their battery compartment in seconds.
Ojol (motorcycle taxi) drivers were the primary victims as many use vehicles with swap-type batteries, which are expensive but easy to pry off and unplug.
BSN mechanical, energy, infrastructure and technology standards development director Iriana Margahayu said the safety feature standardization process would seek to determine which parts of the vehicle were still unsafe.
She expected that standardization of the motorcycle’s battery could provide a sense of security for consumers, mainly by preventing theft. Furthermore, the BSN would also summon several e-motorcycle manufacturers to conduct hearings and discuss the matter in detail.
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