Can Battery-Powered Electric Vehicles Deliver on Indonesia’s CO₂ Emissions Goals?
By: Arsel Arianto Pau Riwu Rethinking the promise of EVs in Indonesia through the lens of lifecycle emissions, energy mix, and sustainable battery supply chains The widespread use of high-emission vehicles on Indonesian roads presents a significant obstacle to the country’s long-term goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2060. With more than 11 million cars currently in operation, the transportation sector stands as one of the largest contributors to national carbon emissions, generating over 35 million tons of CO 2 annually. This sector alone accounts for 70-80% of urban air pollution in major cities, significantly undermines Indonesia’s climate commitments under the Paris Agreement. To overcome this challenge, a transition toward cleaner transportation alternatives is essential. One widely promoted solution is the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), which offer the potential to reduce global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Their substantially lower tailpi...