EV Adoption Requires Rhythm, Not Too Fast

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – The shift towards electric vehicles continues to be promoted as a long-term solution to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels. However, this transition is deemed unable to be carried out instantaneously because it involves the readiness of the industry, infrastructure, and societal behaviour. According to Stakeholder Member of the National Energy Council (DEN), Sripeni Inten Cahyani, the acceleration of electric vehicle adoption still needs to be regulated in its rhythm to avoid causing disruptions in other sectors, particularly the internal combustion engine (ICE)-based vehicle industry. She explained that in global practice, the initial adoption of electric vehicles is generally around 10 percent of the total vehicle population. This figure is considered a safe limit so that the new technology begins to be accepted without disturbing the existing market balance. According to her, with a portion of around 10 percent, the presence of electric vehicles does not immediately disrupt the conventional vehicle industry. Instead, this condition provides space for both technologies to run side by side while awaiting full readiness towards electrification. Sripeni also reminded that the scale of the vehicle market in Indonesia is very large, so even a small shift in percentage means a significant absolute number. She exemplified that promoting just one million electric vehicle units remains a challenge. That number even has not reached 1 percent of the total motorcycle population in Indonesia. Based on data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), the number of motor vehicles in Indonesia is estimated to approach 173 million units in 2025. She assessed that education to reduce petroleum fuel (BBM) consumption in the transportation sector is as important as promoting electric vehicle adoption. According to Sripeni, without behavioural changes, energy transition efforts will run more slowly because BBM consumption remains high.