UMY Expert: SKPL-MU Development Requires Comprehensive Electric Vehicle Ecosystem

A lecturer from the Electrical Engineering Programme at Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY), Tony K. Hariadi, has urged Muhammadiyah to strengthen the overall electric vehicle ecosystem alongside its plan to build 2,000 Muhammadiyah Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (SKPL-MU) across Indonesia. Speaking in Yogyakarta on Friday, Tony described the initiative as a strategic breakthrough to address the main barrier to electric vehicle adoption, namely the lack of charging infrastructure, but stressed that charging stations are only one part of a larger ecosystem. “If asked whether building 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 a major issue, but it is not the only one,” Tony said. He explained that the challenges of electric vehicle adoption in Indonesia encompass various crucial aspects, from battery industry readiness and the availability of repair networks to after-sales service. He noted that prospective consumers are still haunted by concerns over battery lifespan and the high cost of future replacement. Furthermore, he highlighted the issue of charging duration. Despite advances in fast-charging technology, electric vehicles still require around 15 to 20 minutes to charge, significantly longer than the roughly five minutes needed to refuel a conventional vehicle. “People are considering the condition of the battery after 10 or 15 years and where to get it serviced. These factors greatly determine the speed of electric vehicle adoption at the community level,” he said. Addressing concerns about the strain on the national power supply, Tony confirmed that Indonesia’s current electricity capacity is sufficient to support the addition of thousands of charging stations, as the country is still in a power surplus. However, he offered a critical note on distribution reliability. Tony proposed that SKPL-MU stations should not rely solely on the state electricity grid (PLN) but should begin integrating independent energy sources such as solar panels or bioethanol-based generators. “If we depend entirely on the PLN grid, the SPKLU cannot operate during a power outage. It would be better if some stations used independent renewable energy generators to be more reliable and environmentally friendly,” Tony said. On another note, Tony observed that the project holds added value for the Muhammadiyah organisation. Placing SKPL-MU in strategic locations such as Muhammadiyah universities and PKU Muhammadiyah hospitals is seen as an effective means of promoting Muhammadiyah’s charitable services (AUM). “When people charge their vehicles within an 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 clean energy development and public benefit,” he said.