South America’s Electric Car Surge: From Lagging To Accelerating - CleanTechnica

South America, long a laggard in electric vehicle (EV) adoption during the 2010s, is now experiencing a significant acceleration in EV sales and infrastructure development. By 2024, several countries in the region, including Brazil (6.5%), Uruguay (13%), and Colombia (7%), surpassed the 5% sales threshold often associated with rapid EV adoption. This shift marks a turning point for a region previously dominated by conventional vehicles and characterized by unique market factors such as a strong used car import sector and a public transport system reliant on buses and minibuses. Notably, cities like Santiago and Bogotá have emerged as leaders in electric bus deployment, with Bogotá operating one of the largest electric transit bus fleets outside China and Santiago aiming for a fully electric public transport system by 2040. Commercial electrification is also advancing, exemplified by Brazil’s introduction of the e-Delivery electric truck and large fleet orders from companies like Ambev. The pace of electrification is supported by expanding charging