UMY Expert: SKPL-MU Development Requires Comprehensive Electric Vehicle Ecosystem
Yogyakarta (ANTARA) - Tony K. Hariadi, a lecturer from the Electrical Engineering Study Programme at Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY), is urging Muhammadiyah to strengthen the electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem comprehensively, alongside the plan to build 2,000 Muhammadiyah Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (SKPL-MU) across various regions in Indonesia.
Speaking in Yogyakarta on Friday, Tony assessed Muhammadiyah’s move as a strategic breakthrough to overcome the primary barrier to EV adoption—the lack of charging infrastructure. However, he noted that building charging stations is only one part of a much broader ecosystem.
“If asked whether the construction of 2,000 SKPL-MU will accelerate the development of the electric vehicle ecosystem in Indonesia, the answer is yes, but only partially. Charging infrastructure is indeed a major issue, but it is not the only one,” said Tony.
He stated that the challenges of EV adoption in Indonesia encompass various crucial aspects, ranging from the readiness of the battery industry and the availability of workshop networks to after-sales services. According to him, potential consumers are currently shadowed by concerns regarding battery lifespan and the high cost of future replacements.
Furthermore, he highlighted the comparison in charging duration. Although “fast charging” technology continues to evolve, electric vehicles still require approximately 15 to 20 minutes to charge, which is significantly longer than refuelling with petrol, which takes only about five minutes.
“The public is still considering the condition of the battery after 10 or 15 years and where repair services can be found. These factors are decisive in the speed of EV adoption at the community level,” he said.
Addressing concerns regarding the burden on the national electricity supply, Tony assured that current electrical capacity is still capable of supporting the addition of thousands of charging stations. Indonesia, according to him, is still in a position of electricity surplus.
However, he provided a critical note regarding distribution reliability. Tony proposed that SKPL-MU should not rely solely on the PLN (state electricity company) grid, but should instead begin integrating independent energy sources such as solar panels or bioethanol-based power plants.
“If we only rely on the PLN grid, the charging stations cannot operate during power outages. It would be better if some stations use independent power plants based on renewable energy to be more reliable and environmentally friendly,” said Tony.
On the other hand, Tony sees this project as having added value for the organisation. Placing SKPL-MU in strategic locations, such as universities and Muhammadiyah PKU Hospitals, is considered an effective way to promote Muhammadiyah’s business units (AUM).
“When the public charges their vehicles within the AUM environment, they will simultaneously become acquainted with the various educational and health services available. This strengthens Muhammadiyah’s image as an organisation committed to the development of clean energy and the benefit of the community,” he said.