0% Down Payment for Electric Motorcycles: APPI Reveals Major Challenges on the Ground
The plan to encourage national electric motorcycle adoption through 0% down payments and affordable instalments is considered insufficient if it relies solely on easier financing. The readiness of the electric vehicle ecosystem is also a determining factor in whether the public is genuinely interested in switching from petrol motorcycles.
Chairman of the Indonesian Financing Companies Association (APPI) Suwandi Wiratno sees that electric motorcycle usage among the public still faces several major challenges, one of which relates to vehicle usage patterns and the readiness of supporting facilities.
According to him, electric motorcycles are currently also widely used within the ecosystem of online motorcycle taxi companies. This situation means that personal ownership of electric vehicles by drivers does not necessarily reflect the overall penetration rate of electric motorcycles in society.
He sees ownership patterns as one of the things that need attention when the government wants to expand electric motorcycle usage. Besides price and financing, consumers will also consider how the vehicle is used on a daily basis.
Another issue arises from energy charging needs. Electric motorcycles require a different charging pattern compared to petrol motorcycles, while users with high mobility need fast and easy access to energy.
The battery swap concept is one alternative. However, the larger the number of electric motorcycle users, the greater the need for a battery swap network capable of supporting public mobility.
The readiness of such facilities becomes increasingly important if electric motorcycles are used for longer journeys. The government and industry players need to take into account the location of battery swap facilities and their capacity as the electric motorcycle population grows.
“Can this electric motorcycle be used for long distances? Where is the battery swap? Is it at rest areas?” he said.
Suwandi believes that electric vehicle adoption cannot happen instantly. The experience with electric cars shows that the public needs a strong reason to be willing to change their vehicle usage habits.
“Indeed, something can be created, something can become big if there is a programme that the market actually buys into. First, the market buys. Second, if it is through the odd-even policy, there is no need to prepare two vehicles,” said Suwandi.