by Nurul Fitri Ramadhani

JAKARTA, March 14 (Xinhua) -- For 27-year-old Salsabila Effendi, this year marks her first time driving her Chinese-made electric car from Jakarta to her hometown in Yogyakarta to celebrate Eid al-Fitr with her family.

The journey, spanning approximately 550 km, will also be the maiden long-distance trip for her Neta V electric car, a gift from her parents in late 2024.

"This car has been my best companion in the past few months. It's very comfortable, and I can't wait to take it on a long trip," Effendi told Xinhua.

Effendi is confident that driving an electric vehicle (EV) for a long road trip will be more comfortable than using a gasoline-powered car, as she won't have to endure long queues at fuel stations.

"There will still be longer queues at gas stations than at EV charging stations. Moreover, charging an EV is cheaper than filling up with fuel," she said.

Aditya Rachman, 43, shares Effendi's enthusiasm. This will be his second time driving his Wuling Binguo AirEV, another Chinese EV brand, from Bekasi in West Java to his hometown in Surabaya, East Java, for the Eid al-Fitr festivities.

"Of course, I'll drive the EV again. It's very practical and efficient. I've also heard that the government plans to increase the number of EV charging stations, especially across Java. This is important as the number of EV users is growing, and more facilities are needed," Rachman said.

The trend of EV adoption in Indonesia is on the rise. According to the state-owned electricity company PLN, the increase is evident from the growing number of requests for power upgrades to charge EVs. The company also reported a fivefold annual increase in transactions at EV charging stations.

The surge in EV users in Indonesia is partly driven by the influx of Chinese EV brands into the country's automotive market, offering competitive and affordable prices.

Edi Srimulyanti, director of retail and commerce at PLN, noted that the use of electric cars for homecoming trips this year is expected to increase by up to 500 percent.

Last year, 4,314 EVs were used by people traveling to their hometowns to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, and this year, the number is projected to reach 21,570. During the 2024 Eid al-Fitr season, EV charging stations recorded 12,600 transactions, a number expected to rise to 64,600 this year.

PLN President Director Darmawan Prasodjo emphasized that EVs are becoming an integral part of daily life in Indonesia. "EVs have proven to be increasingly popular among Indonesians, and PLN remains committed to supporting the development of the EV ecosystem," he said.

In a recent official statement, Indonesian Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia announced that 3,558 public EV charging stations have been set up along homecoming routes on Sumatra, Java, and Nusa Tenggara islands to ensure smooth travel for EV users.

"With more people using electric cars, the government, through PLN, is providing one charging station every 22 km," he said.

As EVs gain popularity in Indonesia, they are not only transforming the way people travel, but also contributing to a more sustainable future.