Battery Electric Vehicle Adoption in Indonesia: Insights from Consumer Preferences and Stakeholder Perspectives
Abstract
Indonesia’s adoption of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) remains limited, posing a challenge to the government’s ambitious targets for 2030 and beyond. This study adopts a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative insights from focus group discussions and stakeholder interviews with quantitative analysis using a mixed multinomial logit (MMNL) model. The stated preference survey includes 1,360 respondents across six provinces in Java, providing broader geographic coverage than most prior studies in Indonesia. The analysis covers both two-wheeler (2W) and four-wheeler (4W) BEVs, while also differentiating preferences by brand, an often-overlooked factor in the Indonesian context. The MMNL results confirm that charging time, range, operational cost, and price significantly influence BEV preferences, with variations across vehicle segments and brand types. Shared concerns from both supply- and demand-side perspectives include affordability, underdeveloped charging infrastructure, and limited product-market fit. However, divergent priorities are evident: industry stakeholders emphasize the need for technological upgrades, consistent policy signals, and improvements in upstream supply chains, while consumers prioritize convenience and final purchase or operating costs, showing less sensitivity to advanced technical specifications. This study contributes to the literature by offering an integrated demand–supply perspective on BEV adoption in an emerging economy, while also introducing brand differentiation and wider geographic sampling as key novelties. Policy recommendations include accelerating fast-charging infrastructure, standardizing batteries, localizing battery production, and implementing stronger disincentives for internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. The strategic enforcement of Presidential Instruction No. 7/2022 is also highlighted as a critical step to demonstrate government commitment. Together, these insights provide actionable guidance for accelerating a more inclusive and effective transition to electric mobility in Indonesia.
References
Abidin, Z. and L., B. (2023), ‘Daftar 15 mobil listrik dijual di indonesia dan harganya! [list of 15 electric cars for sale in indonesia and their prices!]’.
Agung, F. (2023), ‘Ini 13 jenis motor listrik dengan tingkat komponen dalam negeri tertinggi [these are 13 types of electric motorbikes with the highest level of domestic components]’.
Astutik, Y. (2021),‘Mayoritas pengguna transportasi dki tempuh 40 km per hari [the majority of dki transportation users travel 40 km per day]’.
Belgiawan, P. F., Dharmowijoyo, D. B. E., Novizayanti, D., Farda, M., Prasetio, E. A. and Dirgahayani, P. (2024), ‘Does range or fiscal policies matter on ev adoption in jakarta metropolitan area?’, Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives 23. URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trip.2024.101027
Belgiawan, P. F., Nurliyana, C., Wirayat, M. Y. F., Syarif, A. T., Safira, M., Sunitiyoso, Y. and Irawan, M. Z. (2025), ‘Exploring urban air mobility as a feeder to high-speed rail: Evidence from jakarta–bandung, indonesia’, Research in Transportation Business & Management 61. URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rtbm.2025.101414
BPS - Statistics Indonesia (2022),‘Number of motorized vehicles by province and type of vehicle, 2015-2022’.
BPS - Statistics Indonesia Sulawesi Utara Province (2024), ‘Jumlah penduduk menurut provinsi di indonesia (ribu jiwa), 2021-2023 [population by province in indonesia (thousand people), 2021-2023]’.
Brückmann, G.,Willibald, F. and Blanco,V. (2019),‘Spatial and individual characteristics for battery electric vehicle adoption’. Montréal, Canada.
Bryła, P., Chatterjee, S. and Ciabiada-Bryła, B. (2022), ‘Consumer adoption of electric vehicles: a systematic literature review’, Energies 16(1), 205. URL: https://doi.org/10.3390/en16010205
Charta Politika Indonesia (2022), ‘Socio-political conditions and electoral map after the increase in fuel prices’.
Choi, S., Kwak, K., Yang, S., Lim, S. and Woo, J. (2022), ‘Effects of policy instruments on electric scooter adoption in jakarta, indonesia: A discrete choice experiment approach’, Economic Analysis and Policy 76, 373–384. URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eap.2022.08.015
Ensslen, A., Paetz, A.-G., Babrowski, S., Jochem, P. and Fichtner, W. (2015), ‘On the road to an electric mobility mass market - how can early adopters be characterized?’. URL: https://doi.org/10.5445/IR/1000047349
Erlangga, C. (2024), ‘Populasi kendaraan listrik tembus 133 ribu di indonesia [the population of electric vehicles has reached 133 thousand in indonesia]’.
Febransyah, A. (2021), ‘Predicting purchase intention towards battery electric vehicles: a case of indonesian market’, World Electric Vehicle Journal 12(4), 240. URL: https://doi.org/10.3390/wevj12040240
Febriati, V. A. (2023), ‘Daftar mobil listrik di indonesia, harga mulai rp 238 juta [list of electric cars in indonesia, prices start at idr 238 million]’.
Gehrke, S. R. and Reardon, T. G. (2022), ‘Patterns and predictors of early electric vehicle adoption in massachusetts’, International Journal of Sustainable Transportation 16(6), 514–525. URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/15568318.2021.1912223
Guerra, E. (2019), ‘Electric vehicles, air pollution, and the motorcycle city: A stated preference survey of consumers’ willingness to adopt electric motorcycles in solo, indonesia’, Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment 68, 52–64. URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trd.2017.07.027
Ha, T. T., Nguyen, T. C., Tu, S. S. and Nguyen, M. H. (2023),‘Investigation of influential factors of intention to adopt electric vehicles for motorcyclists in vietnam’, Sustainability 15(11), 8765. URL: https://doi.org/10.3390/su15118765
Habich-Sobiegalla, S., Kostka, G. and Anzinger, N. (2019),‘Citizens’ electric vehicle purchase intentions in china: An analysis of micro-level and macro-level factors’, Transport Policy 79, 223–233. URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tranpol.2019.05.008
Helveston, J. P., Liu, Y., Feit, E. M., Fuchs, E., Klampfl, E. and Michalek, J. J. (2015), ‘Will subsidies drive electric vehicle adoption? measuring consumer preferences in the u.s. and china’, Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice 73, 96–112. URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tra.2015.01.002
Institute for Essential Services Reform (2023),‘Indonesia electric vehicle outlook 2023: Electrifying transport sector’.
International Energy Agency (2023), ‘Global ev outlook 2023: Catching up with climate ambitions’.
Ivanova, G. and Moreira, A. C. (2023), ‘Antecedents of electric vehicle purchase intention from the consumer’s perspective: A systematic literature review’, Sustainability 15(4), 2878. URL: https://doi.org/10.3390/su15042878
Jensen, A. F. and Mabit, S. L. (2017), ‘The use of electric vehicles: A case study on adding an electric car to a household’, Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice 106, 89–99. URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tra.2017.09.004
Kongklaew, C., Phoungthong, K., Prabpayak, C., Chowdhury, M. S., Khan, I., Yuangyai, N., Yuangyai, C. and Techato, K. (2021), ‘Barriers to electric vehicle adoption in thailand’, Sustainability 13(22), 12839. URL: https://doi.org/10.3390/su132212839
Kroes, E. P. and Sheldon, R. J. (1988), ‘Stated preference methods: An introduction’, Journal of Transport Economics and Policy 22(1), 11–25.
Li, W., Long, R., Chen, H., Chen, F., Zheng, X. and Yang, M. (2019), ‘Effect of policy incentives on the uptake of electric vehicles in china’, Sustainability 11(12), 3323. URL: https://doi.org/10.3390/su11123323
Li, W., Long, R., Chen, H. and Geng, J. (2017), ‘A review of factors influencing consumer intentions to adopt battery electric vehicles’, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 78, 318–328. URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2017.04.076
Louviere, J., Hensher, D., Swait, J. and Adamowicz, W. (2000), Stated Choice Methods: Analysis and Applications, 1 edn, Cambridge University Press. URL: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511753831
Maghfiroh, M., Pandyaswargo, A. and Onoda, H. (2021), ‘Current readiness status of electric vehicles in indonesia: Multistakeholder perceptions’, Sustainability 13(23), 13177. URL: https://doi.org/10.3390/su132313177
Mandys, F. (2021), ‘Electric vehicles and consumer choices’, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 142, 110874. URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2021.110874
Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (2024a), ‘Hingga akhir tahun 2023, 2.704 unit infrastruktur siap ngecas kendaraan listrik’.
Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (2024b), ‘Menteri arifin minta pln perbanyak spklu kendaraan listrik’.
Miwa, T., Sato, H. and Morikawa, T. (2017), ‘Range and battery depletion concerns with electric vehicles’, Journal of Advanced Transportation pp. 1–12. URL: https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/7491234
National Energy Council (2022), ‘Sukses konversi 100 motor listrik, kementerian esdm lanjutkan konversi 1.000 motor listrik tahun 2022 [converted 100 electric motorbikes, ministry of energy and mineral resources will continue converting 1,000 electric motorbikes in 2022]’.
Pandyaswargo, A., Wibowo, A., Maghfiroh, M., Rezqita, A. and Onoda, H. (2021), ‘The emerging electric vehicle and battery industry in indonesia: Actions around the nickel ore export ban and a swot analysis’, Batteries 7(4), 80. URL: https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries7040080
PT PLN (Persero) (2024), ‘Terus tingkatkan jumlah spklu selama 2023, pln berhasil penuhi kebutuhan pengguna kendaraan listrik di indonesia [continuing to increase the number of charging station throughout 2023, pln has succeeded in meeting the needs of electric vehicle users in indonesia]’.
Qian, L., Grisolía, J. and Soopramanien, D. (2019), ‘The impact of service and government-policy attributes on consumer preferences for electric vehicles in china’, Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice 122, 70–84. URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tra.2019.02.008
Qiu, Y., Zhou, P. and Sun, H. (2019),‘Assessing the effectiveness of city-level electric vehicle policies in china’, Energy Policy 130, 22–31. URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2019.03.052
Rahadiansyah, R. (2023),‘Mobil listrik paling laris di indonesia awal 2023 [the best-selling electric car in indonesia early 2023]’.
Ritchie, H., Rosado, P. and Roser, M. (2020), ‘Co₂ and greenhouse gas emissions’.
Sasongko, T., Ciptomulyono, U., Wirjodirdjo, B. and Prastawa, A. (2024), ‘Identification of electric vehicle adoption and production factors based on an ecosystem perspective in indonesia’, Cogent Business & Management 11(1). URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2024.2332497
Sunitiyoso, Y., Belgiawan, P. F., Susilo, Y., Rizki, M., Wirayat, M. Y. F. and Ramadhan, M. R. (2025), ‘Public acceptance of urban air mobility: A study on factors influencing adoption’, Sustainable Futures 10, 100980. URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sftr.2025.100980
The Association of Indonesia Automotive Industry (2023), ‘Dominasi jepang di era mobil listrik [japan’s dominance in the era of electric cars]’.
Train, K. E. (2001), Discrete Choice Methods with Simulation, Cambridge University Press. URL: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511805271
Veza, I., Said, M. F. M., Riyadi, T. W. B., Djamari, D. W., Abas, M. A., Latiff, Z. A. and Said, M. (2021), ‘Cause and effect of the emerging chinese car in the indonesian automotive industry’.
Wang, S., Li, J. and Zhao, D. (2017),‘The impact of policy measures on consumer intention to adopt electric vehicles: Evidence from china’, Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice 105, 14–26. URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tra.2017.08.013
Wicki, M., Brückmann, G., Quoss, F. and Bernauer, T. (2023),‘What do we really know about the acceptance of battery electric vehicles? – turns out, not much’, Transport Reviews 43(1), 62–87. URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/01441647.2021.2023693
Yu, J., Yang, P., Zhang, K., Wang, F. and Miao, L. (2018), ‘Evaluating the effect of policies and the development of charging infrastructure on electric vehicle diffusion in china’, Sustainability 10(10), 3394. URL: https://doi.org/10.3390/su10103394
Copyright (c) 2025 The Author(s)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Copyright is granted to authors for the purpose of providing protection for articles written to describe experiments and their results. JCEF will protect and defend the work and reputation of the author and are also willing to address any allegations of violation, plagiarism, fraud, etc. against articles written and published by JCEF. JCEF is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-SA 4.0). The author holds the copyright and assigns the journal rights to the first publication (online and print) of the work simultaneously.
