Minister Bahlil: China vs Japan Rivalry in EV and Hydrogen is a Tech Battle, Indonesia Stays Neutral

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia has assessed that the development of battery-based electric vehicles (EV) and hydrogen vehicles represents a technological battle, particularly between China and Japan.

According to him, China is currently the driving force behind battery-based electric vehicles, while Japan is more focused on promoting the utilisation of hydrogen as the fuel of the future.

“This debate is led by an Asian country, but I don’t need to mention which one is researching hydrogen, while battery EVs are being developed by China. This is a technological rivalry debate,” Bahlil said at the Global Hydrogen Ecosystem Summit and Exhibition (GHE) 2026 in Jakarta, as quoted on Wednesday (22/7/2026).

He believes that hydrogen-fuelled vehicles will become a serious competitor to battery-based electric cars within the next five to ten years, driven by ongoing technological advancements.

“My belief is that, at the latest, within the next five to ten years, hydrogen will rival battery-based electric vehicles,” Bahlil stated.

Despite acknowledging this technological competition, Bahlil emphasised that Indonesia will not take sides. He asserted that the government’s choice will be determined by the technology that best suits the national interest.

“For me, the country’s stance is determined firstly by our commitment to clean energy, secondly by energy efficiency, and thirdly by whether the energy can be produced from within the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia,” Bahlil concluded.