Peaceful Homecoming with Electric Vehicles: PLN Prepares 4,769 SPKLUs and Latest Digital Features
The trend towards environmentally friendly homecoming is predicted to surge sharply this year. PT PLN (Persero) estimates that more than 23,000 electric vehicles (EVs) will crowd the homecoming routes, a significant 60% increase compared to the previous period.
In response to this phenomenon, PLN ensures that charging infrastructure is ready to serve travellers at various strategic points.
As of now, PLN along with its partners has operated 4,769 units of Public Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (SPKLUs) spread across 3,097 locations throughout Indonesia. This figure shows a 70% annual growth in infrastructure.
PLN’s President Director, Darmawan Prasodjo, emphasised that EV users no longer need to feel anxious about travel distance.
“Currently, the average distance between SPKLUs is around 22 kilometres. This means that electric vehicle users do not need to worry about running out of power in the middle of the journey because charging infrastructure is widely available,” said Darmawan in a written statement on Thursday (19/3).
Specifically for the main routes in Sumatra, Java, and Bali, there are 1,681 SPKLU units at 994 locations. Details include 284 units prepared at 99 toll road rest areas, while the other 1,203 units are spread across 777 non-toll route locations to reach arterial paths.
As a mitigation step, PLN has prepared more than 5,000 personnel to keep SPKLU operations optimal during the homecoming and return flows.
In addition, there are 15 mobile SPKLU units placed at several toll exits to provide emergency charging assistance for drivers in need.
To provide a smoother homecoming experience, PLN is optimising the Electric Vehicle Digital Services (EVDS) feature in the PLN Mobile app.
Through the Trip Planner feature, travellers can map SPKLU locations along their journey route. Meanwhile, the AntreEV feature allows users to monitor queues at SPKLUs in real-time.
“We also encourage the public to utilise the Trip Planner and AntreEV features in the PLN Mobile app, so that homecoming trips with electric vehicles can be planned better and more comfortably,” added Darmawan.
Convenience is also provided through the EV-TAP payment system. Currently, 20 SPKLU units in rest areas along the Trans Java Toll Road support payments using electronic money cards (e-money), making the charging process faster and more flexible.
For travellers needing emergency assistance or further information, PLN provides 24-hour customer service through the PLN Mobile app and the WhatsApp hotline at 0877-71112-123.