What Is SPKLU and How to Use It in Indonesia
An SPKLU is the most common way to charge an electric vehicle (battery electric vehicle / BEV) away from home while driving in Indonesia. But what exactly is an SPKLU, which connectors does it use, and how do you charge at one? This guide explains the basics in plain terms — what SPKLU means, its connector types, and the steps to use one — then closes with a cost overview computed automatically from official tariffs.
What is an SPKLU?
SPKLU stands for Stasiun Pengisian Kendaraan Listrik Umum — the public EV (BEV) charging-station network operated by PLN together with various partners. It plays the same role a petrol station does for combustion cars: a public spot at roadsides, rest areas, malls, or PLN offices where you charge your car's battery while away from home. Because it is built for public use, an SPKLU usually offers DC fast charging that is far more powerful than a home charger.
Besides car-oriented SPKLU, PLN also runs other station types and battery-swap points for electric motorcycles, but this guide focuses on charging electric cars. The key point: an SPKLU is paid public charging, distinct from charging at home on the residential electricity tariff.
AC vs DC and the connector types
Charging at an SPKLU comes in two forms: AC (slower, like a home charger) and DC (high-power fast charging). Most SPKLU used for trips are DC fast chargers. What distinguishes them for the user is the connector type plugged into the car.
Three connector types are common in Indonesia: CCS2 (Combined Charging System 2) is the DC fast-charging standard most new EVs use — check whether your car uses CCS2. CHAdeMO is an older DC standard still found on some cars (e.g. certain Japanese models). Type-2 is the AC connector for slower charging. Before setting off, make sure your destination SPKLU has a connector compatible with your car — this information is usually listed in the app.
How to find and use an SPKLU
The easiest way to find the nearest SPKLU is the PLN Mobile app, which shows a map of stations along with their connector types and availability. The app is also used to start a charging session and pay, so you do not need cash at the station.
The general steps to use an SPKLU: open the PLN Mobile app and pick an SPKLU location, arrive at the station and select the connector that matches your car, plug the cable into the car's charging port, authenticate or scan the code on the charger through the app to start the session, then wait until the battery reaches your target — many users stop around 80% because DC fast charging slows down beyond that. When done, stop the session from the app or charger and unplug the connector. There is sometimes a per-session service fee on top of the per-kWh rate, so check the cost breakdown in the app before you start.
How much does charging at an SPKLU cost?
The table below gives a cost overview by charging a common EV from 20% to 80% — the most realistic everyday range — at an SPKLU with DC fast charging versus at home on the residential tariff. All figures are computed automatically from the electricity tariffs and the car's specifications; no price is written by hand. This is a brief illustration only — for a deeper cost comparison, see the separate guide below.
| Scenario | Energy | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| At home (AC) 20% → 80% | 18 kWh | 2 hours 44 minutes | Rp 30.673,12 |
| Public DC 20% → 80% | 18 kWh | 36 minutes | Rp 44.506,37 |
When should you use an SPKLU?
For everyday use, charging at home is almost always cheaper: in the example above, charging 20% to 80% at home is about {homeCost}, while at an SPKLU it is about {dcCost}, because the public DC fast-charging rate per kWh is higher than the residential tariff. An SPKLU makes the most sense for long trips or when you need a quick top-up — you trade a higher per-kWh cost for speed: 20% to 80% at an SPKLU takes about {dcTime}, far faster than at home at about {homeTime}.
Want a fuller home-vs-SPKLU cost comparison? Read the "Home charging vs public SPKLU cost" guide, which goes deeper. Curious where these figures come from, including the formula and the official electricity-tariff sources used? See the "How charging cost is calculated" guide. And to compute it for your own car and tariff, use the charging cost calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What is an SPKLU?
- SPKLU stands for Stasiun Pengisian Kendaraan Listrik Umum — the public EV charging-station network operated by PLN and its partners. An SPKLU usually offers DC fast charging, so it is far faster than a home charger, and it is used to charge away from home while driving in Indonesia.
Which connectors do SPKLU stations use?
- Three connector types are common in Indonesia: CCS2 for DC fast charging (used by most new EVs), CHAdeMO for DC on some older cars, and Type-2 for slower AC charging. Make sure your destination SPKLU has a connector that matches your car — this is usually listed in the PLN Mobile app.
How do you use an SPKLU?
- Find an SPKLU location via the PLN Mobile app, arrive and select the matching connector, plug it into your car's port, authenticate through the app to start the session, and wait until the battery reaches your target (many users stop around 80%). As a rough guide, charging 20% to 80% at an SPKLU takes about 36 minutes and costs about Rp 44.506,37; there is sometimes a per-session service fee on top of the per-kWh rate.