EV transition sees government push in Latin America
As the gradual transition toward electromobility is the goal for both the public and private sectors in many Latin American countries, here is just a taste of what is going on in Colombia, Chile, and Panama.
In Colombia, the city of Medellin’s electric taxi project states that only 5% VAT is charged for taxis if they are 100% electric, not to mention other benefits under Ministry of Transport law 1964 of 2019. A total of 137 proposals were received late 2022 of which 97 were enabled.
In February 2023, at least 19 fully electric taxis were operating in the city, local mobility news service Portal Movilidad reported.
In related news, Medellin officials are working with other Latin American cities to push the same incentives for the cargo industry. Being carried out through Medellin’s cooperation and investment agency, ACI, proposals will be delivered to C40, a city’s climate leadership group composed of some 100 cities worldwide.
Meanwhile in Chile, EV charging infrastructure regulation is under review for updates, and it is certainly needed, according to Felipe Donoso Vergara (pictured left) who is CEO of light vehicle charging company Emérgica City.
Charging standards need to be revised, especially in terms of the GB/T regulation which is common in China. As there are many variants that apply to electromobility with the entry of Chinese brands, the executive states that it is imperative to update the regulation, especially for public access charging, according to the news service.
In Panama, the country’s Ministry of Environment (MiAmbiente) is working toward electromobility by transitioning its fleet to electric vehicles (EV), an ongoing trend expected in the country following the fleet replacement goals announced under a government initiative known as the National Electric Mobility Strategy.
Not only MiAmbiente but several ministries will be able to gradually incorporate zero-emission vehicles into their fleets, says MiAmbiente director of climate change Ligia Castro de Doens (pictured right), adding however that it depends on the upcoming financial and economic conditions of the country, the news service said.
Under the initiative, 10-20% of private vehicles and 25-50% of public fleets should be zero-emission (EV) by 2030. Meanwhile, there are 158 organizations taking part in voluntary state program “Tu Huella Corporative” (Reduce Your Corporate Footprint). It involves the transition towards EVs as well as the installation of charging points at corporate facilities.
For more on what is taking place in Latin America, make sure to attend the 2023 Global Fleet Conference in Portugal. Kicking off the event is the Fleet LatAm Expert Meeting scheduled 15 May. See more here.
