Chile is continuing to make a concerted effort to reduce its emissions and air pollution moving forward with the adoption of 200 new electric buses this year and an expected 500 more to follow next year. The country aims to have a fully electric public transport system by 2040.
Chile currently has the largest fleet of electric buses in Latin America and the Caribbean. The country will host the UN Climate Change Conference COP25 in December.
Conference president and Chile’s Minister of Environment Carolina Schmidt explained the importance of shifting the country’s fleet toward electric:
“To decisively confront climate change, electromobility is critical. We are taking a leap towards a cleaner, more efficient and sustainable transport system.”
According to the
UN Environment, Santiago may have 700 electric buses in its fleet by next year, but other Latin American countries are also working to keep up with Chile.
Guayaquil, Ecuador’s largest city, launched a fleet of 20 electric buses in March.
Meanwhile, Costa Rica pledges to have an all-electric fleet of buses and taxis by 2050, as part of a national decarbonization plan.
“Other countries are also putting in place incentives for customers, like Peru, where a tax on electric vehicles was lifted in 2018” (
Electrek).