December 10, 2024

 

Climate Change Highlights the Urgent Task of Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG). In Chile, the transport sector accounts for 23% of the country’s emissions, according to figures from the Energy Sustainability Agency (AgenciaSE). To address this issue, initiatives are already underway to gradually replace fossil fuels with renewable energy sources.

Although the electric bus market in the country reached a total of 1,390 units sold in 2023, only 218 units have been sold so far this year, according to the latest report from the National Automobile Association of Chile (ANAC). This decline is mainly due to the timing of the RED system tendering processes, which concentrate a significant portion of demand, explains Marcela Castillo, deputy director and co-founder of the Sustainable Mobility Center. “We should see electric bus sales rise again in 2025, as next year will reflect the 2024 tenders,” she notes. Meanwhile, the electric truck sector recorded 82 units sold by October this year, already representing the highest number in the last three years. The growth, the executive explains, has been driven primarily by the increased availability of models in Chile and increasingly competitive prices. “Although the initial investment is higher, the lower operating and maintenance costs make electric trucks more profitable in the long run, especially for urban applications,” Castillo says.

According to ANAC Secretary General Diego Mendoza, the electric truck sector has had a good year in electromobility, with growth seen and various industries now considering the use of these vehicles. “Truck autonomy has improved significantly, as has charging speed,” he notes.

In this regard, he highlights that the mining sector has seen increased adoption of electric trucks and buses for personnel transport at worksite entries and exits. Additionally, the logistics industry, including urban delivery and dispatch centers, as well as stakeholders requiring high annual mileage, have already embraced electromobility as a solution. “This helps improve their final emissions performance, reduce their carbon footprint, and meet their energy efficiency goals,” Mendoza states.

These are industries where vehicle use is constant and demanding, making electric energy an economically attractive alternative, says Luis Gutiérrez, an academic from the Faculty of Engineering and Sciences at Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez (UAI), director of R&D at YUZZ, and researcher at the Center for Energy Transition (CENTRA). “This financial advantage is due to the lower maintenance needs and the lower cost of electric energy compared to traditional fuels, making the transition to electromobility not only a more sustainable option but also more profitable in the long run,” he explains.

Projections

Models with greater range, more alternatives, and more competitive prices are among the key trends experts anticipate for 2025, which will boost electric cargo vehicle sales.

In this regard, Marcela Castillo from the Sustainable Mobility Center points out that as the prices of electric trucks continue to drop, the main barrier to widespread adoption will be the lack of charging infrastructure, especially for intercity routes. “Fast chargers will be needed on highways, as well as a charging network with sufficient coverage,” she warns. Meanwhile, Luis Gutiérrez emphasizes that for deploying trucks or buses on longer routes than those currently used, a robust and reliable fast-charging network is crucial.

Minister of Transport and Telecommunications Juan Carlos Muñoz states that they will continue working on various measures to support this transition, highlighting the homologation of electric vehicles from markets such as China. “Or even exploring more specific measures, such as the possibility of implementing retrofit systems, which could facilitate the conversion of currently combustion-powered vehicles to electric propulsion,” he emphasizes.

Courtesy of Diario Financiero