PT PLN (Persero) today outlined its focus on providing infrastructure to 
accelerate Indonesia’s electric vehicle ecosystem, aimed to reduce the carbon 
emission on transportation. 

Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) Erick Thohir said the government is 
fully committed to develop the electric vehicle ecosystem, mainly after 
President Joko Widodo released Presidential Regulation Number 55 of 2019 on the 
Acceleration of the Battery Electric Vehicle Program for Road Transportation. 

For this reason, the Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) is in full 
support by assigning a number of SOEs, including PLN, to accelerate the 
electric vehicle ecosystem in Indonesia. "We all should keep national energy 
security in appropriate condition, which at this time we import 1.5 million 
barrels per day for fuel-oil based (BBM) or the equivalent of Rp 200 trillion 
per year. Electric vehicles are the solution to reduce the foreign exchange 
abroad," he said.

Minister Thohir explained that the transition of electric vehicles has many 
benefits, both for the economy and the environment. This is in line with the 
national goal to continue to encourage sustainable economic development. 
“Electric vehicles are more eco-friendly transportation. The emissions produced 
are lower than fuel-oil based vehicles, so it will reduce air pollution as well 
as noise pollution," said Minister Thohir.

Moving quickly, the Ministry of SOEs has also assigned a number of SOEs, 
including PLN, to collaborate on accelerating the electric vehicle ecosystem in 
Indonesia. President Director of PLN Darmawan Prasodjo stated that PLN is ready 
to support the acceleration of the electric vehicle ecosystem from upstream to 
downstream. Besides securing power supply for charging electric vehicles, PLN 
has also prepared supporting infrastructure and services to facilitate users 
towards switching to electric vehicles.

Currently, PLN has developed 150 units of Public Electric Vehicle Charging 
Stations (SPKLU) spread over 120 locations. PLN plans to expand 110 units more 
of SPKLU in 2022. Darmawan said that PLN is pleased to welcome business 
entities to collaborate in partnerships to provide SPKLU. A new scheme for the 
provision of SPKLU is the Partnership Investor Own Investor Operate (IO2) in 
which the Partner prepares investment funds according to the type of SPKLU 
service, land provision and operation and maintenance. "PLN also cooperates 
with state-owned banks or Himbara for EV banking service products, car 
installments and the SPKLU franchise," he said.

In addition, for electric motor vehicles, PLN has also provided a General 
Electric Vehicle Battery Exchange Station (SPBKLU). Currently there are 16 
units installed in Jakarta, and 2 units in Surabaya. In 2022, it is planned 
that 70 SPBKLU units will be expanded with a total of about 300 batteries and 
locations spread across Java and Bali.

"Considering the experience of electric vehicle users, charging is mostly done 
at home when the vehicle is not in use. Usually at night. For this reason, PLN 
has also collaborated with ATPM or electric vehicle distributors," he said.

Through this collaboration, PLN customers who purchase electric vehicles will 
immediately be assisted with the installation of home charging and discounts 
fee on new installation for electric vehicles, namely the 'Super EVeryday' 
promo. "PLN also provides a 30 percent discount fee for use from home charging 
electricity from 22.00 WIB to 05.00 WIB," he said.

Electric vehicle users are also facilitated, Darmawan said, by Electric Vehicle 
Digital Services (EVDS). The EVDS is a platform for complete electric vehicle 
services. "EVDS will improve customer experience by digitizing and integrating 
all customer service systems for users or potential users of electric 
vehicles," he explained.

PLN is also actively collaborating with other SOEs institutions to scale up an 
end-to-end EV Battery supply chain through the Indonesia Battery Corporation 
(IBC). Darmawan explained, the potential for nickel in Indonesia will be able 
to support the acceleration of EV in Indonesia, because the battery component 
is the most expensive component in an electric vehicle.

Therefore, PLN has joined the IBC, a consortium of 4 SOEs, which consists of 
PLN, Antam, Pertamina and Mind ID, that will engage the mining and energy 
sectors. "In 2022, PLN will increase the fund up to IDR 513 billion to IBC to 
develop the battery industry," said Darmawan.

SOURCE: PT. Perusahaan Listrik Negara (Persero)