Taxi Drivers in Bali Oppose Electric Vehicle Fleet Renewal Mandate Amid Dwindling Passenger Numbers
A number of conventional taxi drivers in Bali have expressed objection to the taxi fleet renewal policy using electric vehicles. The policy is contained in a letter from the Bali Department of Transportation (Dishub), following up on the Bali Governor’s Regulation (Pergub) No. 48 of 2019 concerning the use of battery-based electric motor vehicles.
Gede Pratnyan, one of the Ngurah Rai taxi drivers at the Segara Ayu Sanur depot, stated that the fleet renewal policy has actually existed for several years. However, he is pessimistic that the requirement can be implemented given the sparse passenger conditions.
“The renewal has been around for a long time. Since 2024,” said Pratnyan when interviewed by detikBali on Friday (27/2/2026).
Another driver, Kadek Merta, felt that the policy should be adjusted to conditions on the ground. He considered that competition between transportation modes in Bali is increasingly difficult, particularly since the proliferation of online transportation services.
“We cannot possibly buy electric vehicles at a price of 500 million rupiah. Where would the money come from? Whilst competition on the ground is really difficult to earn a living. We are really struggling even to put food on the table, let alone for fleet renewal,” said Merta.
Whilst rejecting the mandatory electric vehicle fleet renewal, conventional taxi drivers admitted they would still agree if the renewal were carried out using fuel-powered vehicles (BBM). According to them, the price of fuel-powered vehicles remains more affordable compared to electric vehicles.
“If the renewal is with fuel-powered vehicles I can still try to manage, but if the renewal is with electric vehicles I cannot afford it, the price is too expensive,” said Pratnyan, whilst admitting he had only made one journey today.
“From this morning I’ve only driven once, at most, transporting to around Sanur Beach. The fare was only 40,000 rupiah. We really have nothing to say anymore. It is not like before,” he added.
“We local people should receive a price standardisation that is actually determined by us who own the cooperative,” he said.
Kadek Merta also compared current conditions with the period before the COVID-19 pandemic. According to him, competition before the pandemic was not as fierce as now. He also highlighted the issue of price wars that make conventional taxis uncompetitive, even though fares should follow cooperative standards.
“We local people should receive price standardisation that is actually determined by us who own the cooperative,” he said.
Conventional taxi drivers hope the government will go directly into the field before implementing the policy of taxi fleet renewal for local vehicles with electric vehicles. Merta mentioned that if the regulation continues to be enforced without a solution, many drivers would be at risk of ceasing operations.
“If it must be done like that, we would definitely choose to stop,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Head of the Land Transportation Organisation (Organda) I Nyoman Arthaya Sena stated that vehicle fleet renewal is a normal matter in the transportation world.
“Vehicle renewal is a normal thing. If vehicles really need to be replaced then they should be replaced; if they should be replaced and are not then they cannot operate,” said Arthaya.
It was previously reported that the Bali Provincial Government has mandated fleet renewal for taxis on the island to use electric vehicles. The policy came into effect from 1 January 2026.
“Only fleet renewal is mandatory. So old vehicles are still allowed to operate until a maximum age limit of 10 years. After that, their replacements must be electric vehicles,” said Bali Transportation Head I Kadek Mudarta, to detikBali on Thursday (26/2/2026).