Jakarta. PLN has joined forces with Energi Selalu Baru (ESB) to deploy battery swap stations for Volta electric two-wheelers at a number of locations belonging to the state-owned utility firm.

ESB focuses on electric vehicle infrastructure, particularly battery swap stations for Volta motorcycles. Under this partnership, PLN will provide locations in its offices for battery switching stations. 

Today, battery swap stations are available in over 250 locations across Indonesia. This is expected to expand more battery switching stations in hundreds of PLN offices. PLN will support its power supply and address any electrical issues in the battery swap stations. ESB will work on developing the battery swap stations and their infrastructure. 

In the initial phase of the partnership, the battery swap stations will be available at PLN UP3 Serpong, UP3 Cikupa, UP3 Cikokol, UP3 Teluk Naga, UP3 North Banten, UP3 South Banten, and the distribution unit office (UP2D). 

ESB will also help integrate the stations with the one-stop EV digital services on the PLN Mobile app. This will enable electric two-wheeler owners to search for swap stations and make battery-switching transactions on PLN Mobile.

PLN president director Darmawan Prasodjo said that the company is open to partnerships to boost the EV ecosystem.

“This ecosystem will change the paradigm that dirty energy can turn into clean energy. The energy that is once expensive can become affordable, and that energy, which is once imported, can be homegrown,” Darmawan was quoted as saying in a recent press statement.

ESB chief executive officer Iwan Suryaputra said that adding more swap stations would make it easier for Volta owners to swap batteries.

“By partnering with PLN, we can provide a fast and easy battery-switching infrastructure that is in close proximity. This is something needed to accelerate the transition to EVs,” Iwan said.

ESB is a subsidiary of NFC Indonesia and part of the M Cash Integrasi (MCAS) group. The government will grant Rp 7 million ($468) in subsidies for 200,000 units of brand-new electric motorbikes this year. The e-motorbikes, however, must be produced domestically and have at least 40 percent local content. Volta’s electric motorbikes’ local content has reached 47.36 percent.