A List of Reasons Why People Are Still Hesitant to Buy Electric Cars

KatadataOTO – Indonesian consumer interest in electric cars has started to increase this year, especially amidst the presence of various Chinese brands with low prices.

Nevertheless, it is undeniable that gasoline or conventional engine cars are still the main choice, especially for consumers in the regions.

Recently, Populix conducted a survey on people who are still reluctant to purchase electric cars.

According to Populix, there are at least three reasons why people are reluctant to switch to electric cars.

Photo : Denza

“First, the availability of SPKLU (Public Electric Vehicle Charging Stations), this is the main barrier why respondents do not want to buy electric cars,” said Susan Adi Putra, Populix Associate Head of Research for Automotive, during the Populix x Forwot Outlook Discussion event on Tuesday (01/07).

This issue is starting to be addressed by PT PLN (Persero). As of March 2025, there are 3,772 SPKLU units spread across all regions of Indonesia.

A total of 2,667 units are on the island of Java, 442 units in Sumatra, and 217 units in Kalimantan.

Then, there are certain automotive manufacturers that provide charging stations at some of their dealer points, making it even more convenient for consumers.

However, the number is still not as massive as gas stations (SPBU - Stasiun Pengisian Bahan Bakar Umum) and is concentrated on the island of Java.

The second factor, according to him, is the limited availability of official workshops or dealers.

“The distance between dealers is still too far,” he said.

Lastly, from the perspective of driving range. It seems that range anxiety is still an issue that four-wheeled vehicle consumers pay attention to.

“Because electric cars have distance and speed limits, this is a concern for them as to why they don't buy an EV (Electric Vehicle),” he explained.

He further explained that there are still a number of things that manufacturers can do to attract consumers.

Photo : KatadataOTO

For example, giving discounts or price cuts. Then, battery and vehicle warranties that add to the consumer's peace of mind in using an electric car.

But Adi emphasized that, slowly, people are starting to consider electric cars because they offer several conveniences, especially in terms of maintenance costs.

“Low annual taxes, then government incentives play an important role,” he said.