Challenges for EV Truck Adoption in Indonesia: The Habit of Overloading

KatadataOTO – In the era of electrification, the adoption of environmentally friendly vehicles or EV (Electric Vehicle) is being encouraged, especially in the passenger car sector.

However, in other sectors such as commercial and heavy-duty vehicles, adoption still faces obstacles.

In fact, electric-powered trucks are considered to be able to significantly help reduce air pollution, especially vehicles used for logistics.

BYD (Build Your Dreams), as one of the electric vehicle manufacturers in the country, claims to have conducted research on the adoption of electric trucks domestically and found one obstacle.

Photo: KatadataOTO

On the sidelines of the Energy Insights Forum by Kadin (Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry), ESDM, and Katadata, BYD confirmed that it has been involved in the commercial vehicle sector in Indonesia before introducing passenger cars.

“Research with VKTR revealed one thing that made us take a step back: in Indonesia, the use of heavy-duty trucks often exceeds the specified limits, or ODOL (Over Dimension and Over Load),” said Luther T. Panjaitan, Head of Public & Government Relations at PT BYD Motor Indonesia in Jakarta, Monday (02/06).

Carrying excessive loads or exceeding the specified capacity can have a negative impact on the vehicle.

According to Luther, further detailed research and technological adjustments are still needed for electric-powered trucks to be used in Indonesia.

“In the use of diesel commercial vehicles, if forced (ODOL), the impact might be slower performance or higher fuel consumption. It's different for EVs, I can't say what the effect would be,” said Luther.

He emphasized that in terms of product lineup, BYD is ready to provide the types of environmentally friendly vehicles needed in the commercial sector.

“In Europe and India, the use of articulated trucks (for mobility) at ports and airports already involves BYD. In London, 85 percent of double-decker buses are from BYD,” Luther revealed.

The Prevalence of ODOL Trucks in Indonesia

Photo: NTMC Polri

The National Police Traffic Corps is now getting more serious about taking action against ODOL trucks operating on the roads. The socialization began on Sunday (01/06).

Socialization for violators or perpetrators of ODOL trucks is carried out so that the public can become more aware of the applicable traffic regulations.

“Moving towards an ODOL-Free Indonesia is not just about law enforcement efforts, but also a collective movement to maintain national traffic safety and smoothness,” said Police Inspector General Agus Suryonugroho, Head of the National Police Traffic Corps, in a statement from the National Police Traffic Corps, quoted on Monday.