Top image: Photo: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Where and how to charge is the first practical question most new EV owners in Indonesia ask. The answer depends on where you live, how far you drive and whether you ride a scooter or drive a car. This guide explains the public SPKLU network run by the state electricity company PLN and its partners, what charging costs, how home charging works, what the battery-swap stations (SPBKLU) for motorbikes are, and which connector your vehicle probably uses.
The SPKLU network: how big is it?
SPKLU (Stasiun Pengisian Kendaraan Listrik Umum) are public charging stations. PLN operated 4,655 of them at the end of 2025. By June 2026, PLN and its partners had 5,016 units at 3,132 locations, according to PLN figures reported by Periskop. Use is climbing fast. SPKLU delivered 62.4 million kWh in the first half of 2026, more than the 48.5 million kWh for the whole of 2025.
The energy ministry’s target is much bigger: 62,918 four-wheel SPKLU by 2030. Coverage is also uneven. Most chargers are in Java’s cities and along the main toll roads. For the 2026 Lebaran homecoming, PLN had 4,769 SPKLU ready at 3,097 points, on average about 22 km apart. Other islands have far fewer.
Types of public charger
SPKLU fall into broad classes by power output. The categories below are from a guide by Auto2000:
- Standard (below 7 kW): an overnight top-up taking 8–12 hours.
- Medium (7–22 kW): AC charging, about 4–8 hours.
- Fast (22–50 kW): DC charging, about 1–2 hours.
- Ultra-fast (above 50 kW): DC charging, from about 30 minutes to an hour for many cars.
Actual times depend on the car’s battery size and the maximum power it can accept.
What public charging costs
The energy ministry has set the base SPKLU tariff at about Rp2,467 per kWh. On top of that, Energy Minister Decree 182/2023 allows a service fee of up to Rp25,000 per session for fast charging and up to Rp57,000 per session for ultra-fast charging (Republika). Auto2000’s 2026 guide puts the base rate at roughly Rp2,466–2,475 per kWh. As a rough guide, adding 40 kWh at a fast charger costs about Rp99,000 in energy plus the session fee. That is still well below the cost of the petrol for the same distance.
Using the PLN Mobile app
Most PLN-network chargers are run through the PLN Mobile app. Payment is cashless and the steps are straightforward:
- Open the app’s EV section and find an SPKLU near you. The map shows whether chargers are free.
- Choose a unit and scan its QR code.
- Plug in the connector that matches your car.
- Pay in the app, start charging and follow the progress on your phone.
The app also has antreEV, a digital queue for busy chargers, and a Trip Planner that suggests SPKLU along your route, Periskop reports. Private operators such as Starvo have their own apps. On a long trip it helps to have more than one installed.
Charging at home
For most car owners, home is where most charging happens. It is also the cheapest option. Two things matter.
Your electricity connection
Household tariffs depend on your connection. In the third quarter of 2026, non-subsidised homes paid about Rp1,444.70 per kWh for 1,300–2,200 VA connections and about Rp1,699.53 for larger ones (Nasional.news). A 7 kW wallbox needs more capacity than many homes have, so you may have to upgrade. PLN’s Home Charging Service (HCS) promotion halved the connection fee until June 2026, bringing a new single-phase 7,700 VA connection down from Rp7,461,300 to Rp3,730,650. Ask PLN whether a similar offer is running now.
The night-time discount
PLN gives EV owners a 30% discount on electricity used for charging between 22:00 and 05:00 (GridOto). Setting a timer on your charger or car is the easiest way to save money.
Connector types: Type 2, CCS2 and others
Most cars sold officially in Indonesia use:
- Type 2: the standard AC connector, used for home wallboxes and slower public chargers.
- CCS2 (Combo 2): a Type 2 plug with two extra DC pins. It is the main standard for DC fast charging and is used by brands such as Hyundai, BMW and Chery, and by many BYD models.
Some models from Chinese brands, including certain Wuling products, use the Chinese GB/T standard. CHAdeMO is now found mainly on older cars such as the first-generation Nissan Leaf, and fewer stations offer it, according to charging operator Starvo. Look at your car’s charging port or the handbook, and filter chargers by connector in the app before you set off.
Battery swapping for motorbikes (SPBKLU)
Most electric scooters can be charged from a normal socket, but that takes a few hours. SPBKLU (Stasiun Penukaran Baterai Kendaraan Listrik Umum) let riders swap a flat battery for a charged one in moments. The motorbike association Aismoli counted 1,907 SPBKLU by March 2026, most of them on Java. PLN Mobile listed 1,118 PLN-operated swap cabinets, plus 603 SPKLU for two-wheelers and 9,601 general-purpose SPLU charging points (Otodream). Swap batteries usually only fit particular brands, so check compatibility before you rely on a network.
Prices, tariffs and incentive rules in Indonesia change often, sometimes month to month. Figures here were correct according to the sources linked at the time of writing; always confirm current prices, promotions and eligibility with an authorised dealer or the relevant provider before you commit.
FAQ
How much does it cost to charge at an SPKLU?
About Rp2,467 per kWh, plus a service fee of up to Rp25,000 per session on fast chargers or up to Rp57,000 on ultra-fast chargers.
How many SPKLU are there in Indonesia?
PLN and its partners had 5,016 units at 3,132 locations by June 2026. The 2030 target is almost 63,000.
Which connector does my car use?
Most cars sold in Indonesia use Type 2 for AC and CCS2 for DC fast charging. Some Chinese-brand models use GB/T.
Is there a discount for charging at home?
Yes. PLN offers 30% off electricity used for EV charging between 22:00 and 05:00.
Sources: Periskop – Konsumsi SPKLU Tembus 62,4 Juta kWh; PLN – PLN Operasikan 4.655 SPKLU Sepanjang 2025; Republika – Isi Daya Fast Charging di SPKLU Kena Tambahan Biaya; Auto2000 – SPKLU PLN 2026: Panduan Lengkap; Nasional.news – Tarif Listrik PLN September 2026; GridOto – PLN Diskon 50 Persen Pemasangan Home Charging Service; Starvo – Standar Konektor Mobil Listrik di Indonesia; Otodream – Infrastruktur SPLU dan Penukaran Baterai