Jakarta –
The era of electric motorbikes is in sight. The government even provided a ‘red carpet’ for electric motorbikes by providing assistance of IDR 7 million. But which is cheaper, buying a gasoline motorbike or buying an electric motorbike?
The government has announced that electric motorbikes will receive assistance of IDR 7 million. The hope, the price of electric motors can be more affordable. That way, sales of electric motorbikes will compete with gasoline motorbikes.
Currently, there are only three brands of electric motorcycles that have been confirmed to receive assistance from the government, namely Gesits, Volta and Selis. If you pay attention, with the existence of ‘subsidies’, the price of electric motorbikes from the three brands is reduced quite significantly. Gesits, for example, the price of an electric motorbike is IDR 20 million.
Then Volta also announced that with government assistance, one type of electric motorbike would be sold for IDR 9 million. Selis is the same way, if you look at the row of electric motorbike models on offer, some will be sold for Rp. 4 million with this assistance. In terms of price, the electric motor is clearly cheaper. As a comparison with gasoline motorbikes which are quite popular in Indonesia, the price is in the range of IDR 17-18 million.
Calculation of Electric Motors
Then what about operational costs? detikOto did a simple calculation simulation about the cost of an electric motor vs a gasoline motorbike. The electric motor is claimed to have a range of 50-60 km on a single battery charge. For example, the Gesits electric motorbike can cover a distance of 50 km with 1 battery. The battery has a capacity of 72 V 20 Ah or when converted around 1.44 kWh.
Then for the tariff, if the power at home is 1,300 VA-2,200 VA then Rp. 1,444.70 per kWh will be charged. When multiplied by the 1.44 kWh battery capacity, the cost is only IDR 2,080,368 or around IDR 2,100. With a capital of Rp. 2,100, the motorbike can cover a distance of about 50 km.
Another example is the Volta electric motor, which has a battery capacity of 60 V 23 Ah or the equivalent of 1.38 kWh. With two battery slots, this electric motorbike can cover a distance of 120 km. This means that the battery capacity for a distance of 120 km is around 2.76 kWh. For that, the charging fee is around IDR 3,987,372 or around IDR 4,000.
Then from the maintenance side, no oil changes are carried out as is the case with gasoline engines. But that does not mean there is no treatment done. Quoting the official Gesits website, periodic maintenance is carried out every 6 months. Components that are cared for and checked include brake fluid, front brakes, transition belts, to the driving motor.
Gasoline engine calculation
Gasoline motorbikes priced at Rp. 17-18 million usually have a cruising range that is not much different. For example, the Honda Beat, which is claimed to have a fuel consumption of 1:60.6. The cost of 1 liter of gasoline depends on the type used. If the Pertalite type of fuel is used, then to cover a distance of about 60 km requires a fee of IDR 10,000. When using Pertamax, to reach a distance of 60 km, you have to pay Rp. 13,800. The costs are still outside, maintenance costs in the form of oil changes and spare parts.
If you pay attention, in terms of daily operational costs using an electric motorbike will be more efficient. To cover a distance of 120 km, the costs incurred are not even up to IDR 5,000. As for petrol motorbikes, to cover a similar distance, if you use Pertalite, you will pay Rp. 20,000.
Watch Video “Not Magic! Converting a Gasoline Motor to Electricity Only Takes Minutes“
(dry/rgr)
