JAKARTA - The Executive Director of the Center of Economic and Law Studies (Celios) Bhima Yudhistira Adhinegara assessed that the increase in the price of non-subsidized fuel (BBM) could make middle-to-upper-class consumers switch to electric vehicles (EV) that are more environmentally friendly and efficient.
As is known, the government raised the price of non-subsidized fuels such as Pertamax Turbo, Dexlite, and Pertamina Dex per April 18, 2026 as a result of adjustments to world oil prices and the war between Iran and the United States-Israel.
"For the middle and upper classes who usually consume Pertamax Turbo, yes, or Pertamina Dex, yes, there is a tendency to switch to electric cars or EVs," Bhima said when contacted in Jakarta, Sunday.
However, he assessed that for the middle class, the transition to electric vehicles is still quite challenging, given the price adjustments due to the supply chain of vehicle production being disrupted, to government incentives related to the purchase of electric vehicles this year which tend to decrease.
"But for the middle group, they are still weighing it. Because what? Because the effects of production disruptions and also the supply chain in the Strait of Hormuz also affect the components and production costs for EVs, so EVs also experience adjustments that go up," said Bhima.
"Then also consider EV incentives and those that are greatly reduced in 2026. So indeed each group of people will have different consumption behavior towards EVs," he added.
Previously, PT Pertamina (Persero) raised the prices of a number of non-subsidized fuel products, namely Pertamax Turbo, Dexlite, and Pertamina Dex starting Saturday (18/4).
The price of Pertamax Turbo for the DKI Jakarta region as of April 18 has increased by Rp19,400 per liter from the price of April 1, 2026 of Rp13,100 per liter.
For the price of Dextlite, it is set at Rp23,600 per liter, up from April 1, 2026 which is Rp14,200 per liter.
Meanwhile, for Pertamina Dex, the price was set at Rp23,900 per liter from the previous Rp14,500 per liter.
The price of Pertamax (RON 92) fuel is still maintained at Rp12,300 per liter and Pertamax Green at Rp12,900 per liter.
Pertamina also still maintains the price of subsidized fuel types Pertalite at Rp10,000 per liter and Biosolar at Rp6,800 per liter.
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