EV Charging Station in Colombia: National Policies, Development Status, Opportunities, Challenges, Key Players

Colombia is rapidly emerging as a key player in Latin America’s electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem, driven by ambitious national policies, growing infrastructure, and a commitment to sustainable mobility. With over 70,000 EVs on its roads and a target of 6,000 public charging points by 2026, the country is laying a strong foundation for electrification. This analysis explores Colombia’s EV charging station landscape, detailing the national policies fueling growth, the current state of infrastructure development, key opportunities for stakeholders, challenges to overcome, and the major players shaping this dynamic market.

I. National Policies Driving EV Charging Infrastructure

Law 1964 of 2019 ("Sustainable Mobility Law"):
- Key Provisions: Sets progressive sales quotas for zero/low-emission vehicles (ZLEVs): 30% by 2030, 100% by 2050. Mandates minimum EV quotas for public fleets. Creates tax benefits (VAT exemption for EVs until 2027, reduced annual ownership tax).
- Impact: Drives EV adoption, creating inherent demand for charging infrastructure.
National Development Plan (PND) 2022-2026 "Colombia Potencia Mundial de la Vida":
- Goals: Targets deployment of 6,000 public charging points nationwide by 2026. Promotes public-private partnerships (PPPs) for infrastructure development. Emphasizes integration with renewable energy sources.
Tax Incentives & Financial Mechanisms:
- Income Tax Deduction (Article 235 of Tax Reform 2022): Companies investing in EV charging stations can deduct 50% of the investment value from income tax over 2 years (25% per year). Extended until end of 2027.
- VAT Exemption: Charging equipment enjoys 0% VAT until at least 2027.
- CREG Resolution 015 of 2021: Defines special electricity tariffs for EV charging stations, separating them from residential/commercial rates to improve viability.
- Grants & Subsidies: Programs like FENOGE (National Fund for Non-Conventional Energies) offer co-financing for public charging projects.
Regulatory Framework:
- RETIE (Technical Regulation for Electrical Installations): Mandatory safety and technical standards for all electrical installations, including EV charging stations. Critical for permitting and operation.
- CREG (Energy & Gas Regulatory Commission): Sets technical and commercial rules for charging service providers, including billing standards and consumer protection.
- Ministry of Mines & Energy (MME): Leads policy development, sets national targets, and coordinates inter-agency efforts.
Local & Regional Initiatives:
- Major cities (Bogotá, Medellín, Cali) have their own Sustainable Mobility Plans, often including targets for charging infrastructure in public spaces, municipal fleets, and incentives for private installations.
- Regional utilities (like EPM in Antioquia) play a massive role in deployment.

II. Current Development Status (as of mid-2024)

Infrastructure Growth:
- Public Chargers: Over 1,800 public charging points deployed nationwide (as of end-2023), growing rapidly. Targeting 6,000+ by 2026.
- Network Operators: Dominated by EPM (Movilidad Inteligente) with the largest network, followed by aggressive expansion from Zunder and new entrants like Evergo (AES). International players (ChargePoint, Enel X) have limited direct presence but supply hardware.
- Geographic Distribution: Concentrated in major urban centers (Bogotá, Medellín, Cali, Barranquilla) and key highway corridors (e.g., Bogotá-Medellín, Bogotá-Girardot). Significant gaps remain in smaller cities and rural areas.
Technology Mix:
- AC Chargers (Level 2): Predominant (~70-80% of points), suitable for homes, workplaces, shopping centers, and longer dwell times. Power typically 7.4 kW to 22 kW.
- DC Fast Chargers (DCFC): Growing rapidly but still a minority. Crucial for highways and quick top-ups. Power ranges from 50kW to 150kW+, with ultra-fast chargers (350kW) starting to appear. Key locations: gas stations, highway rest stops, fleet depots.
- Bus & Fleet Charging: Dedicated high-power depot chargers (often 150kW+) are being deployed for electric buses (especially in Bogotá/Transmilenio) and corporate fleets.
Key Players:
- Utilities: EPM (leader in deployment), others (e.g., Enel-Codensa in Bogotá) are significant players.
- Pure Charging Networks: Zunder (rapid expansion), Evergo (AES, scaling up).
- Hardware Suppliers: ABB, Schneider Electric, Siemens, Eaton, Wallbox (via distributors), HACEB (local AC manufacturer).
- Distributors/Integrators: Tecnoedil, others supplying and installing hardware.
EV Adoption:
- Growth: Significant acceleration. Over 70,000+ EVs on Colombian roads (mix of BEVs and PHEVs, plus significant e-motorcycles). Second largest EV market in Latin America (after Brazil/Mexico).
- Vehicle Mix: Strong growth in electric buses (Transmilenio leading), passenger cars, and notably, e-motorcycles. Fleet adoption (especially taxis) is increasing.

III. Key Opportunities

Massive Infrastructure Rollout: The government target of 6,000+ public points by 2026 represents a huge market opportunity for hardware suppliers, installers, and network operators. Continued growth beyond 2026 is guaranteed by EV sales quotas.
Highway Corridors: Significant need for reliable, high-power DC fast charging along major inter-city routes connecting Bogotá, Medellín, Cali, Bucaramanga, and coastal cities.
Fleet Electrification: Taxis, ride-hailing, logistics, delivery vehicles, and corporate fleets require dedicated charging solutions (depot charging, strategic public fast charging).
Bus Charging Infrastructure: Continued rollout for Transmilenio (Bogotá) and expansion to other cities' mass transit systems demands specialized high-power charging depots.
Residential & Condominium Charging: Growing demand for home chargers (AC Level 2) and solutions for multi-unit dwellings (shared charging management).
Commercial & Destination Charging: Shopping malls, hotels, restaurants, and offices are prime locations to install AC chargers to attract customers and support employees.
Integration with Renewables: Combining solar PV with battery storage and EV charging offers resilience, cost savings, and sustainability appeal.
Value-Added Services: Charging management software, payment platforms, predictive maintenance services, and energy management solutions.
Regional Expansion: Opportunities exist to expand networks beyond the current major hubs into secondary cities and tourist destinations.

IV. Major Challenges

Grid Capacity & Stability:
- High-Power Demand: Concentrated deployment of DCFC, especially in clusters or areas with weak grids, risks overloading transformers and distribution networks.
- Investment Needs: Significant investment in grid reinforcement and smart grid technologies (monitoring, control, demand response) is required to support mass charging.
- Voltage Fluctuations: Existing grid issues in some areas can impact charger performance and reliability.
Financing & Business Models:
- High Upfront Costs: DCFC units and grid upgrades require substantial capital investment.
- Payback Period Uncertainty: Revenue models for public charging are still evolving. Utilization rates are currently low in many locations, making profitability challenging.
- Access to Capital: Securing financing, especially for smaller players or projects in less proven locations, can be difficult.
Regulatory & Permitting Hurdles:
- Complexity & Fragmentation: Navigating permits (land use, construction, electrical, environmental) across different municipalities can be slow and inconsistent.
- Land Access: Securing suitable locations (especially on highways) at reasonable cost.
- Clarity on Roles: Ongoing refinement of roles/responsibilities between CREG, MME, UPME, and local authorities is needed.
Interoperability & Standards:
- Roaming: Lack of a robust, widespread roaming agreement between different network operators hinders user convenience ("one app/one card" access).
- OCPP Adoption: While common, ensuring full compatibility between different hardware and software platforms remains a challenge.
- Plug Standards: Primarily Type 2 (Mennekes) for AC and CCS Combo 2 for DC, but ensuring compatibility and future-proofing is key.
Consumer Concerns:
- Range Anxiety: Perceived lack of sufficient public chargers, especially DCFC on highways.
- Pricing Transparency: Need for clear, consistent pricing structures and easy payment methods.
- Reliability: Ensuring high uptime rates and prompt maintenance is critical for user trust.
Skilled Workforce Gap: Shortage of trained personnel for installation, maintenance, and repair of EVSE, especially complex DCFC systems.

V. Strategic Outlook

Colombia is demonstrating strong political commitment and experiencing rapid growth in both EV adoption and charging infrastructure deployment. The market presents substantial opportunities, particularly in filling geographic gaps, developing highway corridors, and serving fleets. However, overcoming challenges related to grid investment, sustainable financing models, streamlined permitting, and ensuring interoperability/reliability will be crucial for achieving the national targets and building a truly robust and user-friendly charging ecosystem that supports the long-term transition to sustainable mobility. The next 3-5 years will be critical in determining the scalability and effectiveness of Colombia's EV charging infrastructure.

VI. The Key Players

EPM (Empresas Públicas de Medellín)
- Year of Experience: 5+ years (in EV charging infrastructure deployment). EPM itself has decades of energy experience.
- Certificates: RETIE compliance mandatory for installations. Chargers deployed are from certified manufacturers (like ABB, Schneider). EPM adheres to ISO 9001, 14001, 50001.
- Company Introduction: Medellín's public utility giant and a major force in Colombia's energy transition. EPM is not primarily a charger manufacturer but is the most significant player in deploying and operating EV charging networks across Colombia (under the "Movilidad Inteligente" brand). They strategically select, procure, install, and manage thousands of charging points nationwide, focusing on public, fleet, and institutional solutions. Their role is pivotal in building national infrastructure.
- More Details: Operates one of the largest public charging networks in Latin America. Strong focus on integrating charging with renewable energy and smart grid technologies. Key partner for government EV initiatives. Offers charging services, network management, and consulting.
HACEB
- Year of Experience: 70+ years (Appliances/Energy), 5+ years focused on EV charging.
- Certificates: RETIE compliance mandatory. ISO 9001:2015. Specific charger models certified to relevant IEC standards (via testing labs). UL/CE for export.
- Company Introduction: Major Colombian manufacturer of appliances and energy solutions. A prominent local manufacturer of AC EV chargers (Level 1 & 2). Produces wallboxes and posts under its own brand, primarily for the Colombian and Latin American markets. Focuses on affordability, accessibility, and suitability for the regional context (homes, condos, businesses).
- More Details: Significant player in supplying residential and light commercial AC charging. Leverages extensive national distribution and service networks. Actively involved in Colombia's domestic EV ecosystem development.
Zunder (formerly Zoilo Ríos)
- Year of Experience: Parent company (Zoilo Ríos Group) has decades in energy, dedicated EV focus ~4+ years.
- Certificates: RETIE compliance essential. Chargers sourced/branded meet international standards (UL, CE, IEC). ISO 9001 likely.
- Company Introduction: Part of the established Zoilo Ríos Group. Zunder is a rapidly growing charging network operator and solution provider in Colombia and expanding in Latin America. They deploy their own branded charging stations (sourced from manufacturers like ABB, Kempower etc.) and operate the network. Focuses on high-power DC fast charging corridors and urban hubs.
- More Details: Aggressive expansion strategy on major Colombian highways and cities. Key competitor to EPM in network operation. Offers charging services directly to EV drivers and fleets.
Tecnoedil
- Year of Experience: 20+ years in electrical distribution, 5+ years focused on EV charging solutions.
- Certificates: Distributor/Integrator - Ensures products supplied meet RETIE and international standards. Company ISO 9001.
- Company Introduction: Major Colombian distributor and integrator of electrical materials and solutions. A key channel partner for multiple international EV charger brands (like Wallbox, etc.) in Colombia. Provides sales, installation, and support services for residential, commercial, and public charging projects.
- More Details: Important player in bringing diverse charger brands to the Colombian market through their extensive nationwide network of branches and relationships with electricians/contractors. Offers one-stop-shop for hardware, installation, and support.