Revealing The Reasons Behind The Low Level Of Electric Vehicle Adoption In Indonesia

Photo illustration. (Doc. Ist)

JAKARTA Indonesia is the third largest motorcycle market in the world after China and India with sales of around 6 million units per year, but the penetration of electric motorcycles in the country is still far from expectations because it is still hampered by various concerns for potential buyers.

According to the latest data processed from the Association of Indonesian Automotive Industries (Gaikindo) and the Indonesian Bimotor Industry Association (AISI), sales of electric motorcycles in Indonesia have more than doubled from 2022 to 2023. However, despite a significant spike, penetration of the electric motorcycle market only reached 0.9 percent of the total sales of new motorcycles in 2023, with total sales of 54,737 units. On the other hand, sales of electric cars in Indonesia have touched more than 2 percent of total car sales in the same year.

This shocked many, especially because a few years ago the market estimated that sales of electric motorcycles would surpass electric cars. In fact, this expectation has not yet materialized.

According to Raditya Wibowo, CEO of an electric motorcycle company in Indonesia, there are several factors that are the main obstacles in the adoption of electric motorcycles in Indonesia.

Seeing the current development of electric motors, it seems that there are no products that can really answer the needs of the community. Most people know that electric motorcycles cannot be used far away, the gas is less optimal, or confused about where to charge them. So basic things like this make the level of adoption of electric motorcycles low," explained Raditya Wibowo, some time ago.

Raditya highlighted a number of customer pain points which are the main reasons for the low rate of adoption of electric motorcycles in Indonesia. One of the biggest concerns is the travel distance. Indonesians need motorbikes that can travel long distances without the need to refill batteries frequently, but currently many electric motors have not met these needs.

In addition, the durability and performance of electric motors are also a major concern. Many users feel that the acceleration and performance of electric motorcycles are not as optimal as gasoline-fueled motorcycles (ICE).

"The gas dance is less responsive, especially when used in challenging terrain or on long trips," he added.

Another obstacle is the limited charging station network. Even though there has been support from the government through subsidies and infrastructure development, the battery charging network is still not evenly distributed in various regions. This makes prospective buyers worried about the ease and efficiency in charging electric motors.

Meanwhile, according to market survey results, consumers still need an increase in the durability and reliability of electric motors so that they can be widely accepted. Electric motorcycles that have performance and toughness equivalent to gasoline-fueled motorcycles are urgent needs that must be met.

The government is also expected to expand the charging station network and increase aftersales for electric vehicles. This infrastructure development is very important to provide a sense of security for consumers who want to lie