JAKARTA— In order to accelerate the development of supporting infrastructure for electric vehicles, the state-owned electricity firm PLN has set a plan to build a Public Electric Vehicle Charging Station (SPKLU). PLN’s Mega Project and Renewable Energy Director Muhammad Ikhsan Asaad said that PLN will build 65 electric vehicle charging stations by 2021. This number is double the existing charging stations.
“This year our target is that PLN will build 65 charging stations. The more, the more convenient and easier for vehicle owners,” Ikhsan said as the Liputan 6 portal quoted on Tuesday, March 23, 2021.
So far there have been 32 electric vehicle charging stations built by PLN. The company is also working with private partmers and other companies such as PT Pertamina (Persero) to build around 65 filling stations spread across 14 cities in Indonesia. Apart from Pertamina, PLN is also working with PT Jasa Marga (Persero) Tbk. through its subsidiary PT Jasamarga Related Business (JMRB) in building a Public Electric Vehicle Charging Station (SPKLU) in the rest area.
Director of Commercial Business of PT JMRB Imad Zaky Mubarak said that the provision of SPLU in the rest area aims to prepare facilities to support the implementation of Presidential Decree No 55 of 2019 concerning the Acceleration of the Battery-Based Electric Vehicle Program for Road Transportation. In collaboration with PLN, Imad revealed that his party plans to build SPKLUs in all rest areas managed by PT JMRB.
Ikhsan hopes that the private sector collaborating with PLN will build more and more SPKLUs. The more private companies working together, he said, will make the electric vehicle ecosystem in Indonesia even stronger. On a full charge of the battery, a certain electric car can reach up to 300 kilometers. He believes the mileage can increase as car and battery technology advances. “If one charge with ultra fast charging, 20 to 30 minutes is full, if the level is medium charging it might be an hour,” said Ikhsan.
Ikhsan explained that PLN also provides a stimulus for electric vehicle owners. One example, PLN provides a 30 percent discount for vehicle owners who charge the battery at home from 22.00 WIB to 5.00 WIB. PLN also launched the Charge.IN application to make it easier to charge electric vehicles. The Charge.IN application helps electric car owners find SPKLU locations. When arriving at the location, the driver can immediately scan to control the SPKLU, then choose how much power to charge
Ikhsan believes that electric vehicles do not only reduce imports of fossil fuel and greenhouse gas emissions. He hopes that with the increasing number of electric vehicles, PLN can distribute more electricity supply, which is currently oversupplied. (*)
