Projections for Surge in EV Travellers, PLN CEO Checks Readiness of Trans-Java SPKLU Services

PT PLN (Persero) has mobilised 4,769 units of Public Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (SPKLU) spread across the country to serve electric vehicle (EV) travellers during the Eid al-Fitr 1447 Hijriah period. This readiness was directly reviewed by PLN’s President Director, Darmawan Prasodjo, during an inspection of an SPKLU at Rest Area KM 43A in Tangerang, Banten, on Monday (16/3/2026). The inspection aimed to ensure all electric vehicle charging infrastructure along strategic routes operates optimally to handle the potential increase in public mobility during this year’s Eid homecoming traffic. “We are going all out to ensure all SPKLU are ready and in top condition to serve the enthusiasm of EV travellers this year. With an increasingly extensive charging network, EV users can now undertake long-distance homecoming journeys more comfortably and without worry,” Darmawan stated on Tuesday (17/3/2026). As EV adoption in Indonesia rises, the use of EVs for homecoming trips this year is also projected to increase significantly. PLN estimates more than 23,000 electric vehicles will be used by the public for homecoming travels, a roughly 60 percent rise compared to last year. To anticipate this surge, PLN, along with its partners, continues to accelerate the development of EV charging infrastructure in various regions. Currently, 4,769 SPKLU units are available at 3,097 locations nationwide, a roughly 70 percent increase from last year. “The average distance between SPKLU is now about 22 kilometres. This means EV users do not need to worry about running out of power mid-journey, as charging infrastructure is widely available,” Darmawan added. Meanwhile, specifically for the Sumatra, Java, and Bali homecoming routes, PLN has prepared 1,681 SPKLU units at 994 locations along the public’s travel routes. Of these, 284 SPKLU units are at 99 toll road locations, while the remaining 1,203 units are spread across 777 non-toll route locations that also serve as main homecoming paths. This infrastructure readiness is supported by more than 5,000 on-duty personnel tasked with ensuring optimal SPKLU operations and providing service support to EV users during the homecoming period. As an additional precautionary measure, PLN has also prepared 15 mobile SPKLU units stationed at various toll exit points. These facilities are ready to assist EV users needing emergency charging during their journeys. To enhance user comfort, PLN is introducing digital service support to improve the EV user experience through the Electric Vehicle Digital Services (EVDS) feature integrated into the PLN Mobile superapp. Via the Trip Planner feature, users can easily locate SPKLU along their travel routes and plan charging more efficiently. Additionally, PLN offers the AntreEV feature, allowing users to monitor SPKLU queues in real-time via the AntreEV Walk-in scheme. “We also encourage the public to utilise the Trip Planner and AntreEV features on the PLN Mobile app so that homecoming journeys with electric vehicles can be planned better and more comfortably,” Darmawan concluded. Beyond that, PLN is further pampering EV users through the EV-TAP payment service. To date, 20 SPKLU units at rest areas along the Trans-Java homecoming route have been equipped with electronic money card payment systems, making the EV charging process even easier and more flexible. Furthermore, EV users needing assistance with charging can contact SPKLU services via the PLN Mobile app or the 24-hour WhatsApp hotline at 0877-71112-123.