Indonesia Aims to Have 125,000 Electric Cars On the Road in 2021

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Indonesia's Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry has expected that the number of electric vehicles to increase significantly along with its development.

This year, it is estimated that the number of four-wheeled electric cars and electric motorbikes could reach 125,000 units and 1.34 million units, respectively.

“We support the acceleration of construction of a battery manufacture to be more competitive and attractive to investors,” said Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Arifin Tasrif during a meeting with House of Representatives Commission VII overseeing energy and mineral affairs on Tuesday, January 19.

Also read: Indonesia Ready to Become Major Player in Electric Vehicle Industry: Minister

To do so, the government has issued several laws and ministerial regulations pertaining to mineral resources, mining, and exports of nickel.

If the target is achieved, this initiative could reduce the consumption of fuel to 0.44 million kiloliters per year.

Arifin said the government has also promoted the use of electric cars as its operational vehicles in ministries or government institutions, regional governments, state-owned enterprises, and the private sector.

“The central, regional, state-owned, and private governments have committed to using the battery-based electric vehicles (KBLBB),” said Arifin.

Until 2025, it is estimated that the use of electric cars in the ministries or government institutions, local governments, state firms, and the private sector to reach 19,220 units. While the use of electric motorbikes could reach 757,139 units and electric buses 10,227 units.

Meanwhile, the total number of national electric vehicles in 2025 could double to 374,000 units for electric cars and nearly 10 times for electric motorbikes or 11.79 million units.