DENPASAR, BALINEWS — Bali Governor Wayan Koster has claimed that electric car sales on the island are continuing to increase, while adoption of electric two-wheelers remains relatively slow.
Koster made the statement during the launch of electric buses and charging stations donated under the Bali E-Mobility Project at Bajra Sandhi Monument Square in Renon, Denpasar, on Thursday (October 22, 2026). The event was also attended by National Development Planning Minister and National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) Head Rachmat Pambudy.
“Minister, I would like to report that electric car sales in Bali are continuing to increase. However, growth in the two-wheeler segment has not been as significant,” Koster said in his remarks.
However, Koster did not provide specific sales figures, growth percentages, or a comparison period to substantiate his claim during the speech.
He urged the public to switch to battery-powered electric vehicles, saying the transition could help create a cleaner environment and improve public health.
“Let us all move quickly toward using battery-powered electric vehicles so that our environment becomes cleaner and our lives healthier,” he said.
Koster also highlighted what he described as the lower operating costs of electric vehicles compared with conventional, fuel-powered vehicles.
He cited a round trip between Denpasar and Singaraja, saying the journey could cost approximately Rp500,000 using a conventional fuel-powered vehicle, compared with around Rp140,000 using an electric car.
“That is far more efficient. There is no engine noise, no air pollution, no noise pollution, and we no longer need engine oil,” he added.
Based on the figures provided by Koster, the estimated savings amount to Rp360,000 per round trip, equivalent to approximately 72 percent of the cost of using a conventional vehicle.
However, he did not provide a detailed breakdown of the calculation, including vehicle types, energy consumption, battery capacity, or the operating costs included in the comparison.
The push to expand electric vehicle use forms part of the Bali provincial government's efforts to encourage a transition toward battery-powered transportation. Koster's remarks also highlighted the challenge of increasing public adoption of electric motorcycles, which he said had not experienced the same level of growth as electric cars.
Detailed sales data will be needed to establish the actual rate of growth in electric vehicle sales and assess the extent to which Bali's transportation sector is shifting away from fossil-fuel-powered vehicles.
