Electric vehicles are becoming increasingly commonplace in Bali, but as the next generation of electric vehicles comes on the market, Bali is doubling down on its commitment to sustainable travel across the province. Tourists traveling in Bali could soon be traveling by electric vehicle as standard.
Speaking to reporters, the Head of the Bali Provincial Transportation Agency, I Gde Wayan Samsi Gunarta, revealed that Bali will become a ‘living lab’ for testing the latest ideas in electric vehicle technology.
Speaking from the Periklindo EV Conference 2025 in Jimbaran, Gunarta shared that he and his teams have been in talks with a range of stakeholders focusing on designing a low-emission, intelligent, and sustainable future for transportation in Bali.
Gunarta shared, “All these discussions emphasize one thing: the transformation to electric vehicles and sustainable mobility is not just a necessity, but an inevitability that must be addressed with progressive policies, adaptive technology, and strong cross-sector synergy.”
In recent years, the Bali Provincial Government has expressed its full commitment to supporting the transition to low-emission transportation and its supporting ecosystem. The government has called on cross-sector collaboration with the central government, industry players, academics, and the community to build an inclusive and sustainable electric vehicle ecosystem across the province.
Bali Governor Wayan Koster already uses electric vehicles for all government transportation, and a series of pilot projects have been hosted in Bali over the last few years, including the Ubud SMART Bus, a collaboration with Toyota.
Gunarta confirmed that more infrastructural development is needed to fully realise the transition. He noted that in developing the Battery-Based Electric Motor Vehicle (KBLBB) industry, as an island, Bali presents a strategic opportunity to create a niche market through electric vehicle products and solutions that are bespoke to the needs of the province.
In high-density tourist areas such as Kuta, Sanur, Ubud, and Nusa Penida, infrastructural upgrades are also being prepared as the first locations for the development of environmentally friendly vehicles.
Gunarta shared his belief that the combination of the Bali Provincial Government’s strong commitment and the opportunities for environmentally friendly mobility solutions available in Bali, as a tourist destination with unique regional characteristics, makes Bali an ideal living lab spacefor testing new ideas, innovations, and technologies for building smart societies, as tabled in the Periklindo EV Conference.
He concluded, ”Let’s continue the spirit of collaboration that has been fostered at this conference, and together we will realize a future of cleaner, smarter, and more sustainable mobility, starting in Bali.”
Speaking separately, Prof. Ching-Chuen Chan, who is considered to be the ‘Father of EV Asia’, told reporters. “I think Bali can become a model for the world because it’s a small island and has advantages in terms of regulatory framework.”
But it is not only electric vehicles that will soon become the norm for tourists in Bali, but flying taxis too. The first flying taxis could be introduced to the province as early as 2028. PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) has been working to develop flying taxis for commercial use, with Bali being the first port of call for the new technology.
There are two flying taxi models created by PT Dirgantara Indonesia that are currently in the testing phase. The first is the Vela Alpha, and the second is the Intercrus Sola.
Speaking to the media earlier this year from the Jiexpo Kemayoran in Jakarta, the Director of Commerce, Technology, and Development of PTDI, Moh Arif Faisal, explained that the development of the Vela Alpha flying taxi is a partnership with PT Vela Prima Nusantara.
He told reporters, “We are here to have cooperation from friends from the industry, the ecosystem in Indonesia as well.” Adding “Hopefully, 2027 will be certified and 2028 will be commercialized.”
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CW
Saturday 19th of July 2025
Good, but less than 2% of Bali's energy production is renewable. The Celukan Bawang coal power plant stands for 40% and there are hardly any incentives for ordinary citizens to put solar panels on their houses. So this sounds like greenwashing to me, not connected to reality.
Firechef
Wednesday 16th of July 2025
As long as the electricity is as expensive as it is and in short supply, also no charging stations, this will be a pipedream as so many others.
Thommo
Wednesday 16th of July 2025
"But it is not only electric vehicles that will soon become the norm for tourists in Bali, but flying taxis too. The first flying taxis could be introduced to the province as early as 2028. PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) has been working to develop flying taxis for commercial use, with Bali being the first port of call for the new technology". When the rest of the world has not met projected targets for transition to EV's Balinese authorities and so called experts are living in a cocoon of delusion and ignorance. Claiming Bali can be at the forefront of all of this is beyond ridiculous. Bali is decades away from "tourists being driven around in EV's". And flying taxis? By 2028. What a ludicrous statement. They should be fun in the wet season. There is nowhere in the world that flying taxis are operational and approved for commercial community use. When authorities and accountable maintenance processes cannot fix potholes and maintain roads or provide any trash/pollution management and better community awareness what ridiculous talk it is about EV's and Flying Taxis.
Martin
Tuesday 22nd of July 2025
@Thommo, Agree with you. One thing I really dislike about Bali is building luxury villas and hotels right up to the road verge no parking or future road improvements possible. The westerners who stay in these monstrosities never walk but ride motorbikes along the dirty trash ridden broken road directly in front of the accomodation, I get called a hypocrite of adding to the problem but I never stay in these properties, and only visit Bali because my partner is Indonesian
Rusty
Friday 18th of July 2025
@Thommo, well said.
Exp
Wednesday 16th of July 2025
EV will move particle pollution from the streets to coal fired power plants needed to produce all the electricity.
Jakarta is heavily polluted from coal fired power plants. Is that the future for Bali as well?
Why not focus first on electrification of motorbikes; the main source of noise and particle pollution? Bye to motor knalpot brong!
Rusty
Friday 18th of July 2025
@Exp, ya knalpot brong, illegal but is for sale everywhere. Totally agree about the noise pollution. It seems problem withnmales worldwide... noise means ego
WAYAN BO
Wednesday 16th of July 2025
@Exp, nuclear power plants could be the solution.
WAYAN BO
Wednesday 16th of July 2025
After great 🇺🇸&🇮🇩 trade agreement many tourists will come to purchase articles made in U.S.A. Europe and the rest of the world should learn from such good example.