Along with the increasing trend of using electric vehicles in various countries, including Indonesia, various information has also emerged that is not necessarily true. Much of this information has eventually developed into hoaxes that make some people hesitate to switch to electric cars. In fact, by understanding the real facts, we can see that most of these concerns are unfounded.

1. Electric Cars Are Easily Flammable

One of the hoaxes that is often heard is the assumption that electric cars are easily flammable because lithium batteries are considered vulnerable to heat or impact. In fact, modern electric cars are equipped with sophisticated safety systems such as automatic temperature control, physical protection, and circuit breakers in the event of system failure. In fact, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 2024, only about out 25 out of every 100,000 EV experience fires each year. In contrast, gasoline vehicles record around 1,500 fires per 100,000 vehicles per year, meaning the risk is about 60 times higher than EVs.

An AutoinsuranceEZ study analyzing data from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reinforces this finding, with EV fire rates at around 25 per 100.000 vehicles while gasoline vehicles reach 1,530 per 100,000 vehicles. Although rarer, EV fires can be more difficult to extinguish due to the potential for “thermal runaway” in lithium-ion batteries. However, manufacturers have implemented advanced battery management systems and segmented module designs to minimize this risk.

2. Electric Cars Are Not Environmentally Friendly Because They Use Coal-Based Electricity

The second issue that often arises is that electric cars are considered not environmentally friendly because their electricity source is still predominantly coal. Indeed, most of the electricity in Indonesia currently still comes from fossil fuel power plants. However, in terms of energy efficiency, electric cars are still much cleaner than gasoline cars. 

Figure 2 CO2 emissions per kilometer from E4W and ICEV (average value in use of 200 thousand km) Source: IESR

Electric Cars (Electric Vehicle) currently produce lower carbon emissions per kilometer than gasoline or diesel cars (ICEV). Nationally, electric cars (electric four wheelers/E4W) produce around 25% lower emissions than conventional cars (four wheelers/4W). However, because most of the electricity supply still comes from fossil fuels, this emission reduction is expected to only increase slightly by 2030 to around 8% if vehicle efficiency does not change. This means that how clean an electric car is depends largely on how clean the electricity source used is.

In gasoline or diesel cars, more than 80% of emissions come from fuel use during the vehicle's lifetime. Electric cars do produce much lower emissions when used, around 70% of total lifetime emissions, but emissions from the production process, especially battery manufacturing, still contribute around 30%.

In addition to lower emissions, electric cars are also more efficient in energy use. According to Telkomsel's report, electric vehicles have higher energy efficiency compared to internal combustion engine vehicles. The energy efficiency of electric vehicles can reach 90%, much higher than oil-fueled vehicles which are only around 20-30%. This means that much more of the energy used by electric cars is actually used to drive the vehicle, while in conventional vehicles most of the energy is lost as heat.

Electric cars are indeed more environmentally friendly than conventional vehicles, especially in terms of emissions and efficiency when used. However, to really reduce emissions to the maximum, a major increase in the use of renewable energy in power plants is needed. In addition, converting fossil fuel cars to electric cars can also be an efficient solution to reduce emissions significantly.

3. Battery Maintenance and Replacement Are Very Expensive

The issue of expensive battery maintenance and replacement is also often the reason people hesitate to use electric cars. In fact, electric vehicles require minimal maintenance because they do not need oil changes, engine servicing, or tune-ups like regular cars. The battery life is also quite long, on average it can reach 8 to 10 years. In addition, car manufacturers generally provide a long warranty for the battery. The replacement cost is not cheap at this time, but the price trend continues to decline along with technological developments and increased production volumes.

The downward trend in the price of electric car batteries in the last 10 years is truly astonishing. Just imagine, in 2013, the price of an electric car battery was still around USD 780 per kWh (around IDR 12.5 million with an exchange rate of IDR 16,000 per USD). So, if a car has a battery capacity of 40 kWh, the total price can reach more than USD 31,000 (around IDR 496 million) almost the same as the price of a new car!

However, this condition has changed drastically. In 2024, the average price of lithium-ion batteries will drop to around USD 115 per kWh (around Rp1.84 million), so for a 40 kWh capacity, the total cost will be around USD 4,600 (around Rp73.6 million). This decline is due to increasingly sophisticated technology, more efficient production, and increasing demand for batteries worldwide. This means that even though the price of replacing a battery still feels expensive today, it will become more affordable in the future. So, concerns about maintenance costs can actually be put aside because the trend is showing a positive direction.

4. Electric Cars Have Very Short Range

There are still those who think that electric cars can only be used in the city because their range is limited. This assumption is no longer relevant. Modern electric cars can currently travel 300 to 500 kilometers on a single full charge. That's more than enough for daily needs, even out-of-town trips. Plus, the infrastructure of SPKLU (Stasiun Pengisian Kendaraan Listrik Umum) terus bertambah, baik di kota-kota besar maupun rest area jalan tol, membuat perjalanan jauh jadi lebih nyaman.

Electric cars are not without their challenges. However, that doesn't mean that all their shortcomings should be magnified with inaccurate information. This technology has great potential to reduce carbon emissions and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. If supported by the right policies and increased public awareness, electric cars could be a cleaner and more efficient mobility solution for the future.