AVAILABILITY OF ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE AND STANDARDS IN INDONESIA

The development of electric vehicles (EVs) depends not only on vehicle prices or purchase incentives, but mainly on two prerequisites: the availability of charging infrastructure and uniform technical standards. Globally, the International Energy Agency (IEA) notes that public chargers will exceed 7 million by the end of 2025; this shows that public charging access is a key requirement for mass adoption, especially for users without home charging facilities.

In Indonesia, the main issue is not just increasing the number of SPKLU, but ensuring the distribution is even, reliable, and easily accessible. PLN's official data states that by August 2026, 5,081 charging stations will be installed across 3,180 locations to serve hundreds of thousands of users, with PLN machines installed in 1,850 locations. 2,224 partner machines are installed in 1,330 locations. Of the 2,224 machines, 621 PLN partner machines use the PLN mobile platform, and 1,603 machines use their own platform. According to the ENTREV 2026 report, the government targets adding up to 62,918 units of SPKLU machines by 2030. These figures show progress, but they also confirm that infrastructure capacity still needs to keep pace with electric vehicle growth.

The next issue is distribution. SPKLU availability remains more concentrated in traffic-congested corridors and major economic zones, such as Trans Java, Madura, Bali, and strategic urban areas. Ahead of Nataru 2025–2026, the government and PLN have prepared 1,515 SPKLU along the section, while in West Java the number of SPKLU is reported to have increased from 416 units on Eid 2025 to 584 units on Eid 2026. This shows two things: infrastructure is growing, but the growth is still largely concentrated in mobility centers and has not fully reached areas outside Java and the 3T area.

Beyond quantity, infrastructure quality also shapes the user experience. In practice, EV drivers need three classes of services: medium charging, fast charging, and ultra-fast charging. PLN defines medium charging as 7 kW to 22 kW, fast charging as over 22 kW to 50 kW, and ultra-fast charging as above 50 kW. This division matters because not all users have the same needs: slow charging suits long parking at home, the office, or shopping malls, while fast charging is needed for intercity travel and intensive use. Without good reliability, the problem of "range anxiety" will remain an obstacle to adoption.

This is where technical standards become the "brain" of EV infrastructure. The National Standardization Agency (BSN) cites IEC 62196-2 as a reference for alternators and IEC 62196-3 Annex FF for direct current. For communication, PLN has emphasized using the Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) to manage SPKLU, so each charging point can connect to the same platform, facilitating monitoring, transactions, and interoperability. For safety and performance, BSN also provides an online SNI catalog and has published electric-vehicle standards, including SNI ISO 15118-1:2019, which regulates the communication interface between vehicles and electric grids. In other words, SPKLU's physical growth must be matched by uniform communication standards, safety, and conformity tests to prevent ecosystem fragmentation.

In terms of regulations, Indonesia actually has a basic framework. Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Regulation No. 1 of 2023 governs the provision of electricity charging infrastructure for KBLBB, including governance, tariffs, coaching, supervision, and administrative provisions. This matters because charging infrastructure is not just a retail business; it is part of the electricity system and must be safe, orderly, and in harmony with PLN's network. In the field, PLN also offers a SPKLU partnership scheme for the private sector, allowing businesses to develop models through collaboration rather than a single SOE investment.

Even so, implementation challenges remain significant. High-power SPKLU is relatively expensive, business locations in areas with low EV penetration are often not commercially attractive, and local power grid capacity is not always ready to handle simultaneous charging loads. Meanwhile, interoperability between applications and payment interfaces remains a real problem. Therefore, accelerating EV infrastructure should not be understood as building charging points alone, but as developing an ecosystem that includes power grids, information systems, partnership models, and standard governance.

The most sensible solution combines equity, standardization, and business model innovation. First, SPKLU development should focus on high-mobility corridors, second-tier cities, industrial estates, rest areas, and transportation nodes. Second, encourage open standards such as OCPP and uniform connector standards so users are not trapped by service fragmentation. Third, smart charging and integration with renewable energy, for example in offices, malls, and solar-based charging hubs, need to expand to make network loads more manageable and operational costs more efficient. In the long run, these measures will strengthen public confidence that EVs are not just a new technology, but a transportation system that is truly ready for daily use.

In conclusion, Indonesia has moved in the right direction, but much work remains. Charging infrastructure has grown, technical standards are beginning to be standardized, and basic regulations are in place. However, as long as the distribution of SPKLU is not evenly distributed, interoperability is not yet full, and the quality of service is not consistent, mass EV adoption will continue to slow down. Therefore, the future agenda must focus on three pillars: accelerating development, standardizing systems, and ensuring service equity. An EV without infrastructure is like a mobile phone without a signal: there are devices, but they are not necessarily optimally usable.

References

1. Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, "Strategy for Accelerating the Utilization of Electric Vehicles in Indonesia."

2. ENTREV Q1 and Q2 FY 2026 Project Activity Report and Q3 - Q4 FY 2026 Work Plan.

3. Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, "SPKLU in West Java Ready to Serve Eid 2026 Travelers."

4. PLN, "SPKLU Partnership."

5. PLN, "Partnership Sharing Model SPKLU / OCPP."

6. BSN, SNI Portal and SNI catalog related to electric vehicles and EV communication.

7. IEA, Global EV Outlook 2026 – Electric vehicle charging.