Travelling Home by Electric Car: Etiquette and Unwritten Rules at Public Charging Stations

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Travelling home using electric cars is increasingly popular among the public as the electric vehicle ecosystem develops in Indonesia. In addition to offering cost efficiency and environmental friendliness, long-distance journeys with electric cars are also supported by the growing number of Public Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (SPKLU) along major mudik routes. However, behind this convenience, there is etiquette for usage that needs to be understood collectively to avoid disrupting other users. Arwani Hidayat, Chairman of the Indonesian Electric Car Community, said that electric car users must understand the etiquette and unwritten rules when charging their electric cars at SPKLU. “If the battery is 20 kWh, it takes one and a half hours to fully charge. The problem is, if many cars like this are used at SPKLU, it can disrupt the ecosystem. Others have to wait a long time, even though the machine can deliver more power,” Arwani told Kompas.com recently. Arwani stressed the importance of regulations so that electric vehicle usage remains aligned with ecosystem readiness, thus not causing long queues at SPKLU. From the user’s perspective, there are two main things to consider: effective and efficient charging, and maintaining etiquette when using public charging facilities. “If the SPKLU is empty, feel free to charge to 100 percent. But if there is a queue, just charge to 80 percent. From 80 to 100 percent takes 20 to 30 minutes, and it actually makes the queue longer,” he said. Secondly, regarding etiquette, once charging is complete, owners should immediately move their electric cars from the charging spot. “Don’t pretend not to know, for example, by leaving to eat even though it’s already full. Every car has a notification in the app, so we can check. If it’s already 100 percent, move it immediately so others can use it,” said Arwani. Arwani also highlighted the bad habit of some users who park their cars in the SPKLU area without charging. Some just park, others pretend to plug in the cable without transacting.