Panama and Costa Rica launch e-car link

Panama and Costa Rica have launched an electric mobility initiative that will allow residents of both countries to travel between the cities of Panama and San José with vehicles powered by batteries that can be recharged over 900 kilometers and using a network powered by renewable energy.

The zero-emissions project is promoted by the National Energy Secretariat (SNE) of Panama and the Costa Rican Electric Mobility Association (Asomove).

The first San José-Panama trip was inaugurated Sunday, November 29 with a fleet of 10 electric vehicles and about 25 associates, whose route will last until December 4.

 In Panama, chargers use solar and wind power plants, which combine renewable energy with zero-emission vehicles. The SNE explained that in Panama the chargers are private and operated by Enel X, Evergo, La Casa de las Baterías and BYD, located in Chitré, Herrera province; La Chorrera, province of Panamá Oeste and in the city of Panamá.

The plenary session of the Assembly approved at the end of October, the bill that encourages electric mobility in land transportation in Panama, proposed by deputy Edison Broce. The proposal received 38 votes in favor and one abstention. There were no votes against.

The chargers in Costa Rica are fast charging and operated by the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE), powered by renewable electricity, located in areas such as Herradura, Jacó, Quepos, Dominical, Uvita, Palmar Norte, and Ciudad Neily.

The project has the support of the Government of Costa Rica, the Government of Panama, and the UN Environment.

“This E-Ride shows the articulation of the public, private, financial, and civil society sectors around the deployment of electric mobility. And it goes further, it is a testimony of the binational work, Costa Rica and Panama, to achieve the decarbonization of transport, responsible for 20% of greenhouse-type emissions in Latin America and the Caribbean said a spokesman.

“It is a sign that the deployment of electric mobility in the region does not remain in rhetoric, it is translated into public policy and concrete developments,” said Gustavo Máñez, Coordinator of Climate Change for Latin America and the Caribbean of the United Nations program: “United for the Environment”.