Work carried out by Volvo Car Chile, in collaboration with the Center for Energy Transition (CENTRA) of the Adolfo Ibáñez University, provided an x-ray of the infrastructure to receive more electrified cars.

A detailed study on the state of electromobility in Chile was presented by Volvo Car Chile, a firm that in collaboration with the Center for Energy Transition (CENTRA) of the Adolfo Ibáñez University developed the “Second Study of Electromobility in Chile: x-ray of the current state and advances of the public charging network”.

This is the second related research of this type and the objective is to debunk myths while learning about the current state of the public charging network for electric vehicles in Chile, basic information for firms such as Volvo, which has budgeted to sell in our country only 100% electric vehicles (BEV) and plug-in hybrids (PHEV) starting next year.

A key point in this electromobility process, which aims to comply with the regulations that will require only electrified cars to be sold in Chile from 2035, is the growth of the fleet of zero and low emission cars.

According to data from the National Automotive Association of Chile (ANAC), 1,991 electric vehicle units have been sold in Chile in 2024. In July, 256 units were registered.

As you can see, the fleet is growing, but what about the infrastructure and charging points?

One of the most striking points of the study is the uneven distribution of charging points, with 70% of them concentrated in the Metropolitan Region.

This disparity creates “blind spaces” where fast charging (DC) is non-existent, as can be seen from Calama to the north and from Puerto Montt to the south.

One of the longest stretches of these so-called “blind spots” is on the route between Copiapó and Antofagasta, with 550 kilometers without a charging point, meaning that this stretch could not be covered without stopping at a house, where the car is charged for several hours.

According to Luis Gutiérrez, principal investigator at CENTRA, “the lack of fast charging points in many regions is a key barrier to the adoption of electromobility, especially on interregional and internal routes. This study analyzed the fast and slow charging infrastructure in Chile, comparing it with international standards. It revealed that only 64% of charging points in Chile are private, compared to the global average of 90%, which shows a high dependence on public chargers. It is crucial to advance in the north of the country with a public-private effort in areas of low initial profitability, to encourage the adoption of electromobility.”

Rodrigo Espinoza, manager of Volvo Car Chile, commented that “this study reveals the need for equitable planning in the expansion of charging infrastructure. As a brand committed to electric mobility, we believe that it is essential that the infrastructure is up to par. We are convinced that electromobility must be accessible to everyone, regardless of their location, and this requires active collaboration between the public and private sectors to close existing gaps.”

In any case, the presentation emphasized the need to advance in the adoption of more home charging points, which would avoid recharging the public system, which was confirmed by the following international data.

At a global level, the charging infrastructure for Electrified Vehicles (EV, electric and plug-in hybrids) grew by 48% in 2023, reaching 40 million charging points.

90% of the charging points installed worldwide are private in homes and workplaces, with 36 million in total. In Norway, 82% of owners charge at home.
In the United Kingdom, 93% of owners have access to charging at home, with more than half using smart chargers. In Chile, 64% of the total are private and 36% public.

In this regard, Espinoza indicated that “although public charging is key, especially on trips outside the city, studies say that more than 90% of the charging opportunity must be residential. In this line, our commitment to the introduction of plug-in vehicles to Chile has considered the delivery and installation of home chargers to our clients. To date, we have 750 installations, which represents almost 50% of the network of private chargers in Chile, according to SEC data, an efficient solution to support charging in our clients’ homes.”

The study carried out by Volvo together with CENTRA also delved into the current capacity of the public network to meet demand, highlighting that, on average, there are five electric vehicles for each full charge point (EV/PC) and 21 electric vehicles for each fast charge point (EV/PC-DC) in Chile.

According to the research, as of July 2024 there are more than 1,268 charging points throughout the country, of which 23% are fast. Of that percentage, 12% is located in the north of the Metropolitan Region and the Valparaíso Region, 56% in the RM and 25% in the south of the RM.

These numbers contrast with some countries where the ratio of electric vehicles per charging point is significantly lower.

For example, the global average is approximately 10 electric vehicles per charger, while in countries such as China, South Korea and the Netherlands, this average is less than 10. In comparison, in the United States this ratio is 24 vehicles per charger and in Norway, more than 30.

In addition, the proportion of fast chargers (DC) is also a relevant indicator. Countries such as New Zealand have a notable focus on fast charging infrastructure, with 75% of their chargers being fast, while in China it is 44% and in Norway it is 41%. This focus on fast charging infrastructure is something that Chile should also consider, especially in underserved areas, to improve the user experience and encourage the adoption of electric vehicles.

However, there are also opportunities to encourage the penetration of electric cars in some areas of the country if we consider that in all regions of Chile – with the exception of Biobío and Metropolitana – the ratio does not exceed 2 electric vehicles per charging point.

In this sense, other striking data is related to the communal distribution of charging points.

The study indicates that only 37% of the municipalities in Chile have public charging infrastructure, while only 26% of the municipalities have Fast Charging (DC) infrastructure.

According to the Charging Points (PC) indicator by region, there are logically many more points in the RM, because 90% of the 100% electric vehicles are in this municipality. However, the Bio Bio Region has a similar indicator to the RM, despite having only 187 BEVs (and 31 charging points) and the Valparaiso Region stands out with 2 BEVs per PC for a total of 139 BEVs.

What do users think?

The study also conducted a survey of 60 electric car users in Chile. These surveys yielded interesting data that contrast with the quantitative information, as 78% of respondents said they were “dissatisfied” with the public charging infrastructure in general, 85% said they “sometimes” find charging points but “not always”, but 60% consider that it always or most of the time works correctly. Regarding the use of public chargers, 54% consider that it is “easy” to use them.

Regarding charging challenges, 40% of respondents said that there is a lack of chargers in the regions, 33% said that there is no availability due to the use of other vehicles, while 27% have problems with low power in roadside chargers.

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