PLN reports electric vehicle usage in South Sumatra has doubled
Palembang (ANTARA) - PT PLN (Persero) South Sumatra, Jambi, and Bengkulu Distribution Unit (UID S2JB) has reported that the use of electric vehicles in South Sumatra has grown more than twofold, reaching 2,04seb47 units as of July 2026.
General Manager of PLN UID S2JB, Diksi Erfani Umar, stated in a written statement that the accelerating growth of electric vehicles in South Sumatra is driving the company to continuously strengthen infrastructure and the quality of charging services.
This commitment is demonstrated through the inauguration of the first SPKLU Centre in South Sumatra, located at PLN ULP Rivai, Demang Lebar Daun, Palembang. This facility not only adds electric vehicle charging capacity but also serves as part of PLN’s strategy to address changing mobility needs and strengthen the electric vehicle ecosystem in South Sumatra.
According to national data, the number of electric cars in South Sumatra reached 2,047 units in July 2026, a significant increase from 849 units in December 2025.
He noted that this more than twofold growth within approximately seven months indicates strengthening public interest in electric vehicles, which simultaneously creates a need for more accessible and reliable charging infrastructure.
“The growth of electric vehicles is a signal for PLN to ensure that this development is accompanied by service readiness for our customers,” he emphasised.
He added that the growth of electric vehicles must be accompanied by infrastructure readiness. Therefore, the company is not only building charging points but also fostering public confidence that electric vehicles can be used easily, comfortably, and supported by reliable services for both daily activities and long-distance travel.
The newly inaugurated Demang Lebar Daun SPKLU Centre is equipped with four new charging units featuring eight CCS2 fast-charging ports with a 120 kW capacity, as well as two existing Fast Charging 2 units with capacities of 120 kW and 180 kW.
“The presence of this facility strengthens PLN UID S2JB’s charging service network across South Sumatra, Jambi, and Bengkulu,” he said.
He added that PLN UID S2JB currently operates a total of 87 electric vehicle charging units spread across 69 SPKLU locations, supported by one mobile SPKLU unit. For two-wheeled electric vehicles, there are 40 charging facilities across 40 points, and this infrastructure distribution continues to be strengthened to make electric vehicle use more practical for the public.
Diksi explained that the development of SPKLU is not merely oriented towards increasing the number of facilities, but also ensuring their presence provides genuine benefits to electric vehicle users.
“Infrastructure must grow in line with the needs and mobility patterns of the community,” he explained.
The high demand for charging services is reflected in the increased utilisation of SPKLU within the PLN UID S2JB working area. The number of charging transactions increased from 1,958 times in 2024 to 11,726 times in 2025, and by August 2026, transactions had reached 28,176 times.
Growth is also evident in electric vehicle energy consumption, where electricity usage through SPKLU increased from 4HM,917 kWh in 2024 to 309,243 kWh in 2025, reaching 762,975 kWh by August 2026.
Diksi assessed that this trend shows SPKLU services are increasingly becoming part of the community’s electricity needs.
“These figures show that a change in consumer behaviour has occurred. PLN must be able to anticipate this growth by providing infrastructure and services ahead of time, so that the availability of charging facilities does not become an obstacle for those wishing to switch to electric vehicles,” said Diksi.
The development of electric vehicle infrastructure is also part of PLN’s transformation in providing energy solutions that better suit customer needs.
“The existence of the SPKLU Centre is part of the company’s readiness to respond to the increasing electric vehicle population, while also supporting the acceleration of the energy transition and the formation of a low-emission lifestyle,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Governor of South Sumatra, Herman Deru, welcomed the strengthening of electric vehicle infrastructure in the province. He noted that the growth of electric vehicles needs to go hand-in-hand with the readiness of supporting facilities to increase public confidence.
“Green energy is one of the solutions for reducing pollutants, including through the use of electric vehicles,” said Deru.
He added that South Sumatra highly appreciates electric vehicle users who support green energy through tax subsidies for electric vehicle owners.
“I thank PLN for demonstrating their seriousness towards service. The presence of the SPKLU Centre with fast-charging services is expected to make the public feel more comfortable and confident in using electric vehicles,” said Herman Deru.