Bahlil expects hydrogen vehicles to rival EVs within next 10 years

Speaking at the opening of the Global Hydrogen Ecosystem Summit & Exhibition (GHES) 2026 in Jakarta, Bahlil expressed optimism about the evolution of green transportation technology as production scales up.

“I believe that within the next five to 10 years, hydrogen will compete with battery-based electric vehicles,” the minister said.

To support this transition, Bahlil outlined plans to leverage Indonesia’s ambitious 100-gigawatt (GW) solar power development program to produce zero-emission hydrogen fuel.

By utilizing renewable solar energy for production, the resulting hydrogen will be fully green from production to end use.

“Clean plus clean results in clean squared,” the minister said, emphasizing environmental benefits of pairing solar infrastructure with hydrogen generation.

The minister acknowledged that the debate over hydrogen versus battery-electric vehicles has intensified globally, where Japan leads in hydrogen development while China dominates battery-electric technology.

Meanwhile, he continued, Indonesia’s policy is guided by three main principles: prioritizing clean energy, ensuring high energy efficiency and producing the energy domestically.

Bahlil described hydrogen as a critical strategy to strengthen national energy security and achieve energy self-sufficiency, reducing Indonesia’s reliance on imported fuels.

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Translator: Putu Indah Savitri, Yashinta Difa