Jaecoo J5 EV Incident: Drivers Urged to be Wary of Car Modifications
JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - A unique and unfortunate incident occurred at one of the Public Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (SPKLU) in Yogyakarta.
A Jaecoo J5 EV electric SUV reportedly toppled a charging facility after its charging cable became entangled with an accessory on the vehicle.
The chronology began when the electric car attempted to charge by reversing into a parking space.
As the charging cable did not reach the car’s charging port, the driver decided to move the vehicle forward to adjust its parking position.
Unfortunately, the driver failed to pay attention to their surroundings.
As a result, as the car moved forward, the entangled cable pulled hard on the SPKLU pole, causing it to collapse and be dragged along.
In response to this incident, Sony Susmana, Training Director at Safety Defensive Consultant Indonesia (SDCI), said that the current trend of new vehicles has led to a proliferation of additional accessories that offer different looks.
“Generally, consumers are attracted because they want to look different from others without considering its basic function,” Sony told Kompas.com on Sunday (17/5/2026).
In terms of compartment safety features, there is nothing wrong, but the design and placement must consider other risks.
“Accessories like this should be reconsidered in terms of the risks they may pose, such as injuring motorcyclists or worsening the impact on pedestrians hit by the bumper,” said Sony.
Regarding the incident where the fast-charging cable became entangled and toppled public facilities, Sony believes that there was a factor of negligence and lack of vigilance on the part of the driver.
Ideally, electric vehicle users should understand the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for safe charging in public areas.
“There should be an SOP for returning the hose (cable) to its place safely and double-checking the vehicle before moving,” he said.
In addition to the issue of vigilance, Sony also reminded that excessive exterior modifications are not recommended, especially if used for daily mobility on roads, as they may violate traffic regulations.
The rules regarding these modifications are outlined in Law Number 22 of 2009 concerning Road Traffic and Transportation (UU LLAJ), particularly those regulating modifications that change the basic specifications of the vehicle.
Car owners are advised to continue choosing accessories that suit their needs and fit the original dimensions of the vehicle so as not to harm themselves or others.
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