Reliable Electric Motorcycle Mechanics: The Key to Successful Conversion of 120 Million Units

JAKARTA - Efforts to accelerate the conversion of fuel-powered motorcycles to electric motorcycles involve more than just technology and incentives. Spokesperson for KOSMIK (Indonesian Electric Motorcycle Community), Hendro Sutono, stated that behind this grand target lies a fundamental need that is no less important: the availability of competent mechanics. “Without enough competent mechanics, the target of 120 million electric motorcycles will only be a grand-sounding ambition but empty in practice,” he told Kompas.com on Wednesday (1/4/2026). “This stage is important to ensure that quality standards are formed from the outset. Without clear standards, mass conversions could potentially create new problems, from inconsistent conversion quality to safety risks,” he said. Hendro added that an approach too focused on quantity risks overlooking the main foundation in developing the electric vehicle ecosystem. Instead of chasing numbers instantly, the focus should be on building a solid ecosystem, starting with improving the quality of human resources. “Going forward, the biggest challenge is how to accelerate the formation of reliable mechanics without sacrificing quality,” he said. “Collaboration is needed between the government, educational institutions, and industry players to expand the reach of training and ensure the availability of adequate facilities and equipment,” he stated. Hendro also assessed that mechanic conversion training programmes may not seem flashy, but they play a crucial role in supporting the major transformation in the transportation sector. “In the end, this transition will not be determined by how advanced the technology is, but by how ready the hands that work on it in the field are,” said Hendro. The government has actually been running technical training programmes for converting fuel-powered motorcycles to electric motorcycles, organised by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources through PPSDM KEBTKE. Nevertheless, he acknowledged that the current scale of training is still far from adequate compared to the 120 million unit conversion target. Training quotas of only tens to hundreds of people indicate that the programme is still in its early stages.