Heaptalk, Jakarta — PLN plans to install 2,000 public electric vehicle charging stations (SPKLU) on electricity poles to optimize existing infrastructure. This step aims to increase the penetration of electric vehicle charging facilities in an effort to accelerate the electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem in the country.
“This year, PLN is targeting the installation of 2,000 units of public electric vehicle charging stations (SPKLU) on electricity poles spread throughout Indonesia,” PLN Retail and Commerce Director Edi Srimulyanti said.
The charging station integrated with electricity poles will fulfill the 1,000 standard public EV charging stations that the company will also build this year. This also addresses land problems that often hinder infrastructure development in the country. She said, “This year, we will add another 2,000 SPKLU, which we will install on electricity poles, either planted on iron poles or attached to concrete poles.”
However, PLN will still consider the amount of power on the electricity poles and the availability of land for parking when choosing which points will later be attached to charging stations. Installing public EV charging stations on electricity poles is also considered more accessible and more effective in accelerating infrastructure development supporting the EV ecosystem.
Rapid growth of EV ecosystem in Indonesia
The rapid growth of the electric vehicle ecosystem in Indonesia has undeniably become a compelling business for state-owned electricity sector companies. Transactions using public EV charging stations during Eid 2024 have grown fivefold compared to last year.
According to PLN President Director Darmawan Prasodjo, transactions using public EV charging stations during the Eid homecoming and return periods this year increased sharply. PLN noted that the number of transactions at SPKLU jumped to 4,500 in the Eid 2024 period from 906 in the Idul Fitri 2023 period. “During homecoming in previous years, SPKLU was only available in certain rest areas. Now, every rest area has a SPKLU ready to serve the needs of travelers,” Darmawan said.
In addition, the State Electricity Company also supports the establishment of home charging at the homes of electric vehicle owners. For this reason, the company is still offering discount promotions for new installation costs, additional power at home for installing home charging, and discounts on electricity use from 22.00-05.00. The goal is that the use of environmentally friendly electric vehicles becomes more massive so that Indonesia’s strong determination to reduce emissions will at least help until the final goal of a carbon emission-free Indonesia by 2060 is achieved.
