It Turns Out, Electric Vehicles "Consume" 20% More Plastic, Here's Why

The development of electric vehicles has a significant impact on material needs, particularly plastic raw materials. This fact is not yet widely recognised by the general public.

Secretary General of the Indonesian Association of Olefin, Aromatic, and Plastic Industries (Inaplas), Fajar Budiono, revealed that the use of plastic in electric vehicles is actually higher than in conventional petrol-powered cars.

“If it’s an electric car, it uses far more plastic than a conventional car,” he told CNBC Indonesia, quoted on Thursday (7/5/2026).

This difference arises because electric vehicles have additional components not found in conventional cars, especially in the battery system.

“In conventional cars, it’s interior and exterior. But for electric cars, it’s used in the interior, exterior, and battery,” he explained.

This opens up major opportunities for the plastic industry as the use of electric vehicles increases, both in the domestic and global markets.

The battery components are the biggest contributor to the increase in plastic use, from battery cell protectors to various connectors that require heat-resistant and waterproof materials.

“It can be 10 to 20% higher for electric cars; the plastic components are higher, especially in the battery,” said Fajar.

Additionally, the battery structure, which consists of many small cells, also increases the need for a large number of plastic components.

“The battery pack consists of small cells, and the connections are sockets made of plastic too,” he stated.