In the midst of the arrangement of Pertalite subsidies, electric motorcycles are a more relevant choice of mobility.

JAKARTA - The Government's discourse to arrange the distribution of Pertalite so that it is more targeted is an opportunity for the public to consider more efficient mobility options. The Indonesian Electric Motorcycle Industry Association (AISMOLI) encourages electric motorcycles to be one of the main choices to reduce people's dependence on fuel while supporting the efficiency of national energy spending.

Discussions on the arrangement of the distribution of Pertalite resurfaced after Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa met with Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia on Tuesday, August 11, 2026. The government is studying restrictions on access to Pertalite for the affluent community, including desil 9 and 10, with gradual implementation after the support system is ready.

According to AISMOLI, the momentum needs to be seen more broadly than just arranging the recipients of subsidies. Indonesia also has the opportunity to reduce the need for fuel structurally through accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles, especially motorcycles which are the dominant mode of transportation for the community. BPS data (2025) shows that the number of motorcycles in Indonesia has reached around 139.45 million units. The size of the population makes the transition of some two-wheeled vehicles to electricity potentially have a significant impact on national energy consumption.

"The arrangement of subsidies is the right momentum to expand people's choices. If people have more efficient vehicles for daily needs, dependence on fuel can also be reduced. Electric motorcycles are increasingly relevant because their operating costs are lower and product choices are more diverse," said Budi Setiyadi, Chairman of AISMOLI, in a statement, Wednesday, August 12.

The potential savings is not small. The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (2022) previously estimated that the use of 900 thousand electric motorcycles could reduce fuel consumption by around 320 million liters per year while reducing the compensation for Pertalite by around Rp480 billion per year. For users, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources also estimates that the savings on the cost of electric motorcycle fuel can reach around Rp2.68 million per year.

With the very large scale of Indonesian two-wheeled vehicles, AISMOLI considers that the acceleration of the adoption of electric motors can produce increasingly significant savings effects. Based on the ratio of fuel consumption savings that the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources has calculated, every one million motorcycles that switch to electricity is equivalent to a potential reduction in fuel consumption of around 356 million liters per year.

This means that the transition of 5 million motorcycles has the potential to reduce fuel needs by around 1.78 billion liters per year, while 10 million motorcycles can reach around 3.56 billion liters per year. This figure is an illustration based on the calculation ratio of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources and its realization will depend on the pattern of vehicle use and the type of fuel previously used.

"If it is carried out on a scale of millions of vehicles, the benefits are not only felt by motorcycle owners through lower operating costs. The state also has the opportunity to reduce fuel consumption and fiscal space that has been needed to maintain energy prices. Therefore, electric motorcycles must begin to be seen as part of the national energy efficiency solution," said Budi.

AISMOLI emphasized that the public will switch over if electric vehicles really provide competitive benefits. Therefore, the acceleration of adoption must go hand in hand with improving the quality and safety of products, increasingly affordable prices, availability of spare parts, after-sales service networks, charging infrastructure and battery exchange, as well as consumer protection. Strengthening the industry also needs to involve all business actors who have invested and contributed in Indonesia, ranging from vehicle and battery manufacturers, component industries, workshops and distribution networks, to infrastructure providers.

"The transition cannot be driven solely by changes in fuel policies. The public must have strong reasons to choose electric motorcycles: the product is quality, safe, economical, and easy to use. The industry's task is to ensure that the entire ecosystem is available," said Budi.

AISMOLI also supports the increased use of domestic components which goes hand in hand with strengthening the ability of local suppliers. Industrial policy needs to maintain healthy competition and provide space for all actors who meet standards, make investments, create jobs, build services, and provide protection to consumers.

According to AISMOLI, the arrangement of fuel subsidies and the acceleration of the adoption of electric vehicles can eventually go hand in hand. Subsidies can be increasingly directed to people in need, while consumers who have the ability and need to switch get a more efficient mobility option.

"What we want to build is not just more electric motorcycles on the road. We want people to have more economical mobility options while helping Indonesia reduce its dependence on fuel. If the ecosystem is stronger, the benefits will be felt by consumers, industry, and the country," concluded Budi.