Ambition for Electric Motorcycle Conversion Spotlights Mechanic Readiness

The Indonesian government continues to promote the transition from fuel-powered vehicles to electric vehicles, including the conversion of older vehicles. Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia revealed that he has been appointed as Chairman of the National Energy Transition Task Force to implement the programme. “We will try to gradually convert the 120 million petrol-powered motorcycles to electric motorcycles,” said Bahlil, quoted from Kompas.com on Monday (9/3/2026). Spokesperson for the Indonesian Electric Bicycle/Motorcycle Community (KOSMIK), Hendro Sutono, believes there is one aspect often overlooked in discussions about converting 120 million petrol motorcycles to electric ones: who will carry out the work. “This question did not arise suddenly. It is actually a continuation of previous concerns that grand ambitions are often not matched with field readiness,” he told Kompas.com on Wednesday (2/4/2026). “In that context, the mechanic conversion training programme can be seen as an initial response that is starting to take shape,” said Hendro. He explained that the technical training programme for converting fuel-powered motorcycles to electric ones, organised by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources through PPSDM KEBTKE, is a strategic step to address this need. “This programme may seem small, with limited participant quotas and phased implementation, but it plays a determining role in building the foundation of the conversion ecosystem,” he said. However, according to Hendro, the ambition to convert 120 million petrol motorcycles is not a simple target. In his calculation, a large capacity at the implementation level is needed to achieve it. “If one mechanic can convert 10 motorcycles per month, then hundreds of thousands of mechanics are needed to approach the 120 million unit target. This figure may not be precise, but it is sufficient to illustrate the real scale of the challenge,” he revealed. Technically, said Hendro, electric motorcycles have a simpler system compared to internal combustion engines. However, this does not automatically make the conversion process easy without adequate expertise. Therefore, mechanic training is considered a crucial factor in supporting the conversion programme. The training programme, which covers regulatory, administrative, and technical practice aspects, provides not only theoretical but also applicable knowledge. “Participants not only understand how to convert motorcycles but also how to ensure that the conversion results are safe and meet standards,” said Hendro.