Planning to Buy "Electric Vehicle"? You Should Know First the Advantages and Disadvantages of Electric Cars

Illustration of an electric car (photo: doc. General Motor)

YOGYAKARTA – The electric car market in the country is predicted to continue to grow, especially since the public's enthusiasm for electric vehicles is so high. Even so, some people may still wonder about the advantages and disadvantages of electric cars.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Electric Cars

Curiosity about the advantages and disadvantages of electric cars is something natural. The reason is, electric cars are still relatively new in Indonesia.

On the other hand, the government strongly encourages the creation of an electrification climate, one of which is through the procurement and use of electric cars. The government is working with PT Pertamina to build General Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (SPKLU) and General Electric Vehicle Battery Exchange Stations (SPBKLU) in all regions in Indonesia.

Various electric vehicle manufacturers have also prepared to market their car products in Indonesia. Based on data from the Ministry of Transportation, the number of electric cars in Indonesia has reached tens of thousands of units. The purchase and use of electric vehicles in Indonesia is predicted to increase.

So, what are the advantages of electric vehicles?

The Advantages of Electric Cars

Compiled by VOI from various sources, here are some advantages of electric cars that you should know.

1. Environmentally friendly

An electric car is an environmentally friendly vehicle because it does not produce exhaust emissions from its working process. This is different from cars that use fuel oil (BBM). Conventional cars produce CO2 emissions resulting from internal engine combustion.

2. No Noise Cabin

The second advantage of electric cars is in terms of sound. Electric cars have a quieter cabin because there is no combustion process in the engine.

When you are driving on the road, all you can hear in the cabin is the sound of the wheels hitting the asphalt.

3. Cheap Tax

The central government provides a number of incentives for electric car owners. The incentives are in the form of tax rebates or relief.

In the DKI Jakarta area, the local government has freed the Motor Vehicle Transfer Fee (BBNKB) and PKB which only need to be paid 10 percent by the car owner. Therefore, don't be surprised if your electric car tax is not up to IDR 1 million.

4. Cheaper Maintenance Cost

In contrast to conventional cars, the moving components in electric cars tend to be fewer. Electric cars do not require engine lubricant, so maintenance costs tend to be cheaper.

The Disadvantages of Electric Cars

Although superior in various aspects, electric cars also have disadvantages, including:

1. Expensive price

The price of electric cars in the country is still relatively more expensive than conventional cars.

The cheapest electric car in Indonesia is priced at IDR 300 million. This price applies to Wuling Air Ev.

While products such as the Hyundai Ioniq 5 are sold at a price of Rp. 600 million.

2. There is still a small battery charging area

The number of Public Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (SPKLU) in Indonesia is still small. This can reduce public interest in buying electric cars, even though EV owners can charge them at home.

However, the widespread availability of SPKLU will certainly provide its own inner peace in using an electric car.

3. Long Battery Charging Time

Electric car battery charging (Photo by Andrew Roberts on Unsplash)

Charging an electric car battery cannot be done as quickly as an oil-fueled car. Therefore, electric car owners must develop a new habit, namely charging the car at night so that it can be used in the morning or afternoon.

Just so you know, charging electric car batteries at SPKLU which has fast charging facilities can take up to 1-2 hours.

4. Expensive Electric Car Battery Prices

Most manufacturers provide a fairly long warranty for electric car batteries. Generally, electric car batteries can last up to 8 years or about 160 thousand kilometers.

The quality of electric batteries can decline over time, therefore, owners should be prepared to spend more money if the battery's power storage capacity begins to decline.

Thus information about the advantages and disadvantages of electric cars. Are you interested in buying an electric car?