Electric mobility is increasingly positioned on the Mexican political agenda, which today considers it “one of the change factors that most contributes to the national and international energy transition and mitigation of climate change.”
There is no doubt that since the Energy Transition Law came into effect in 2015, the Strategy has been a tool to project Mexico on its path towards sustainability until 2037.
In this way, through the update of the text, three action axes were reviewed with the purpose of accelerating and directing national energy efficiency efforts towards the mobility sector.
Efficient Vehicle Technologies
On one hand, the Strategy updates its technological approach by proposing to expand and strengthen the Mexican Official Standards (NOMs) for minimum fuel efficiency for all motor vehicles.
Additionally, it aims to promote the establishment of vehicle fleet renewal programmes that include the use of hybrid, electric, and efficient technologies, and that consider the recycling of components.
Another point highlighted by SENER is to boost an annual integration percentage of the electric/hybrid vehicle fleet.
Furthermore, it adds to the scheme by developing a roadmap for the gradual replacement of fossil fuel use with efficient and cleaner vehicle technologies.
Infrastructure to facilitate the integration of various transport modes
It’s worth noting that to achieve a zero-emission country, it’s necessary to implement public policies that ensure conducive frameworks for both public and private sector actions.
Therefore, a cornerstone set by the Secretariat is to increase the number of mandatory programmes for replacing the public transport fleet with high-energy-performance vehicles.
Additionally, it identifies the development of regulations and standards for the incorporation of electric vehicle charging infrastructure into the National Electric System as a strategic factor.
Similarly, strategies for innovation in the training and education of specialists in the planning, development, and operation of multimodal mobility systems are being developed.
Alongside this, there’s an encouragement for the involvement of qualified personnel in electrification and electromobility transport projects.
City planning and reducing the need for mobility
Regarding Mexico’s urbanisation, the department has not yet outlined new updates.
However, as of today, the Strategy highlights the need to strengthen the policy for vertical urban expansion and multimodal mobility.
On the other hand, it proposes programmes to enhance design and management capacities for urban reordering actions in subnational governments.
Similarly, the training of experts in planning, development, and operation of schedules for urban reordering is anticipated.
Likewise, there’s a push to develop mobility infrastructure.
A strategy focusing on electrification
Both the Ministry of Energy (SENER) and the National Commission for Efficient Use of Energy (Conuee) collaborated on this update.
Every three years, this provision is renewed with the aim of verifying if the action lines are still current and aligned with the country’s energy policy and national context.
Thus, the implementation of the initiative continues to achieve greater energy efficiency and an orderly integration of clean energies in national generation.
A notable point highlighted by the Secretariat is that the transport sector is the largest energy consumer at the national level, accounting for 46% of final energy consumption.
Therefore, its evolution “is determined by technological innovation and electrification in processes.”
However, SENER also argues that the electrification of transport is not only related to the technological change of vehicles but also to the adaptation and organized growth of cities.
Registrations of electric and hybrid vehicles on the rise
Recently, the Mexican Association of the Automotive Industry (AMIA) revealed the most important aspects of Mexico’s electric and hybrid vehicle market.
According to the latest report, registrations of electric and hybrid vehicles grew by 74.6 per cent between January 2023 and the same month this year, driven mainly by the hybrid business.
Regarding specifically January 2024 – the last month with updated data – total sales were 7,442 units, with a market share of 6.6 per cent.
The sales consisted of 5,747 hybrids, 1,241 electric vehicles, and 454 plug-in hybrids.
With this result, nine consecutive months have seen a penetration of five per cent or more of total sales, confirming the growth trend of this type of mechanics in the country.
The evolution has been remarkable, especially when considering the last seven years as the analysis period.
In 2016, 8,265 units were sold between electric and hybrid vehicles, and by 2023, the final number reached 73,680.
