UNAIR NEWS – The increasing use of electric motorized vehicles (KBL) in Indonesia started from Presidential Regulation No 55 of 2019 concerning the Acceleration of Battery-based Electric Motorized Vehicles programs. As reported in Jawa Pos, in 2021, the number of EV (Electric Vehicle) cars sold was 687 units. And in November 2022, 7,923 units were sold. This figure shows increased sales by almost 13 times.

The government is preparing an incentive scheme for electric vehicle purchases to accelerate the program. With the incentives, electric vehicle sales growth is predicted to increase from the previous year. UNAIR Sociology lecturer Irfan Wahyudi S Sos M Comms PhD said that the presence of electric vehicles is a global response to the high use of fossil energy. This condition urges almost the whole world to use alternative energy.

“And that is the premise constantly echoed by both countries in the world and organizations such as the United Nations to support the use renewable energy sources,” he said.

Social benefits

According to Irfan, the increasing use of electric vehicles in society is not only beneficial pragmatically, such as the perception of cheaper fuel or energy saving. However, it also brings social benefits, creating public awareness of energy consumption.

He gave an example of someone’s ability to fill up fuel anytime. It creates wasteful attitudes toward using fuel.

“When using an electric vehicle, a certain amount of time must be allocated. Or if you come to a gas station (battery charging), it can’t take 1-2 minutes, right? It can take 15 minutes, minimum, to fill up energy for at least a few kilometers,” he said.

Irfan then explained that, in general, Indonesia is still left behind in terms of electric transportation compared to China, Europe, the United States, and India. Referring to research from the University of Cambridge in 2021, Irfan said that promoting and using electric vehicles could solve many social justice and health problems.

“Electric vehicles are not only in terms of saving energy, or the switch. But we also change our culture or how we use the vehicle itself,” he said.

Gap

Irfan also explained that the KBL program has the potential to create gaps in the community between those who have easy access and those who have difficulty accessing KLB. The government has anticipated this with plans to provide incentives. Even though it drew criticism, such as increased emissions and vehicle volume, Irfan said that the government wanted to show that now is the time to switch to electric vehicles.

“Slowly, there should be a change,” he said.

Community gaps may arise because of the large proportion of middle to lower-class people. Irfan said that the solution to narrowing this gap should not be left to buyers alone. Efforts to provide mass transportation with electric motors should be made.

“So that people can still enjoy it,” he said.

Use energy wisely

Irfan then encouraged the public to be wise and disciplined in using energy. The process is more challenging than switching the energy source.

“Because this involves people’s habits. Incorporate it into the curriculum of elementary school students, especially because they are the ones who will use technology on a large scale,” he concluded.

Author: Muhammad Mu’afa Rahman

Editor: Feri Fenoria