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Date: February 4, 2025
Angeles Fonti
By Angeles Fonti
Latin America

2025: Critical Deadlines and Uncertainty for Electromobility in Colombia

Time is running out for the electrification of 10% of public transport and the installation of fast-charging stations. Meanwhile, charging infrastructure and user benefits have yet to fully mature. Here are the key details of the Colombian electromobility landscape.

With key deadlines approaching, Colombia must accelerate the implementation of fundamental measures for the growth of the sustainable transport sector, declared in 2019.

While significant progress has been made, the deployment of infrastructure, public transport electrification, and the application of incentives still need to mature.

With the clock ticking, will 2025 be the year Colombia meets its electromobility commitments, or will it be another missed deadline in the country’s environmental agenda?

Public Transport Must Be Electrified: Will It Reach 10% Under the Electromobility Law?

One of the most critical commitments of the Electromobility Law is the gradual electrification of public transport.

Starting in 2025, at least 10% of the vehicles acquired by mass transit systems must be electric or zero-emission.

Cities like Bogotá and Medellín are leading the way, incorporating electric fleets into their public transport systems.

However, in other regions, electrification is progressing slowly due to a lack of incentives, financing, and the limited availability of electric vehicles in the country.

Such is the case of Cali.

For years, Cali’s mass transit system has faced serious difficulties, mainly due to financial problems affecting its service.

Unpaid debts to operators have led the MIO Integrated Mass Transport System into significant debt, estimated at 80 billion pesos.

This has jeopardized the continuity of active fleets, including those composed of electric buses.

Regarding this issue, Eder, who took office as Mayor of Cali in 2024, stated that one of his first measures was to settle MIO’s debts with Metrocali, the managing entity.

He also announced the arrival of more than 100 electric buses in the city.

Meanwhile, Transmilenio has called for investors to participate in the bidding process for 296 zero and low-emission articulated buses, the largest fleet of its kind in the world.

Through a public selection process, the winning concessionaire is expected to develop its own design and implement the most efficient solution to meet the system’s electromobility needs.

Fast-Charging Stations: An Unmet Obligation

Another critical issue for 2025 is the installation of five fast-charging stations in each special-category municipality (excluding Tumaco and Buenaventura), while Bogotá must guarantee at least 20 operational fast-charging points.

In 2019, the Electromobility Law set a three-year deadline for all special municipalities to implement fast-charging stations.

While some private companies have initiated charging station projects, mass implementation remains a challenge, largely due to unclear policies and regulatory barriers.

Benefits and Incentives for Electromobility: Progress and Setbacks

The Electromobility Law includes various incentives to encourage the adoption of electric vehicles, such as:

  • 10% discount on SOAT for electric vehicles: Some insurance companies have applied this benefit, but access remains inconsistent across the country.
  • Exemption from “pico y placa” and car-free day restrictions: In cities like Bogotá and Medellín, electric vehicles are exempt from these traffic restrictions, but implementation remains partial in other regions.
  • Exclusive parking spaces: The law mandates that 2% of spaces in commercial establishments and public entities be reserved for electric vehicles, but implementation is still limited.

With 2025 fast approaching, Colombia faces significant challenges in meeting its electromobility commitments.

Will the country rise to the occasion, or will these initiatives fall short once again?

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