Panama is in the early stages of electric mobility adoption, a process that is just beginning to take off following recent regulations in the field.
Although there are already around 300 charging points in the country, most are concentrated in urban areas, limiting users’ confidence in using electric vehicles across the entire national territory.
During the LATAM Renewables Congress, Héctor Cotes, President of the World Energy Council Panama (WEC), spoke with Mobility Portal Latinoamérica and emphasized the need to improve the distribution of charging points so that citizens feel secure when traveling longer distances.
“The key point is the charging points; it’s essential to answer the main question: ‘How far can I go?'”
He adds, “And that’s the issue that needs to be addressed. People need to trust that there will be enough charging points when they need them.”
The current distribution of charging points is mainly limited to Panama City, which does not meet the needs of those who wish to travel to the interior of the country.
“The distribution of charging points is within the city. But when you drive your car, which in Panama is also used for going to the beaches or the countryside, you need the reassurance that you’ll be able to charge in any of those places,” Cotes explains.
For electric mobility to become a more accessible reality in Panama, it will be essential for the government, together with the private sector, to work on expanding and better distributing charging infrastructure across the country.
Only then will citizens fully trust the viability of choosing electric vehicles.
How are charging points distributed in Panama?
In the province of Panama, the most populated region in the country, there is a more extensive network with 96 charging stations and 133 chargers, reflecting the high demand in this area.
In Chiriquí, there are a total of 24 charging stations with 25 available chargers, indicating a substantial infrastructure in that region.
In the Coclé region, there are 18 charging stations with 23 chargers available for users.
Panamá Oeste has 13 charging stations and 17 chargers.
Veraguas has 10 charging stations and 12 chargers.
In the less populated provinces, Los Santos has seven charging stations and seven chargers, while Herrera has five charging stations and seven chargers.
Colón has four charging stations with seven chargers.
Finally, in the province of Bocas del Toro, there is one charging station equipped with a single charger.
These charging facilities reflect the growth and expansion of electric mobility in the country.
Another Pending Challenge: Increasing the Supply of Electric Vehicles
While the National Electric Mobility Strategy has been 87% fulfilled to date, the next steps, according to Rosilena Lindo Riggs, former Secretary of Energy of Panama, should focus on increasing the supply and accessibility of electric vehicles.
Currently, Panama has 47 models of electric units, but there is a push for greater diversity and competitiveness in the market to reduce prices.
The electric mobility law provides additional incentives for the import and purchase of these vehicles, and the country is expected to position itself as an attractive hub for the arrival of lower-cost zero-emission transport options.
The former secretary also highlights the importance of educating and raising public awareness about the benefits of electric mobility.
“It is crucial to dispel myths around electric mobility and bring people closer to this technology through direct experience,” she asserts.
In this regard, technical training programs in energy transition and electric mobility are being developed to train the country’s mechanics.
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