Colombia. According to a report developed by the organization C40 Cities and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the country could mobilize investments of 184 million dollars in public charging infrastructure for electric vehicles (EVs) over the next decade.
The study, entitled Market Analysis of Public Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Infrastructure in Cities, was conducted in collaboration with The Climate Pledge, through the Laneshift program, and the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). The paper analyzes market trends, investment needs, regulatory frameworks, and initiatives driven by cities in Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and India to accelerate the expansion of charging infrastructure.
According to the report, Colombia has established itself as one of the most dynamic electric mobility markets in Latin America. By 2025, electric vehicles accounted for 5.9% of new vehicle sales in the country, while the public charging network is expected to grow from approximately 700 current chargers to about 19,000 by 2035.
Among the cases analyzed, Bogotá stands out for the combination of sustainable mobility policies, regulation of public space and advances in the electrification of public transport, including one of the largest fleets of electric buses in Latin America.
Global growth and investment opportunities
The report highlights that the deployment of charging infrastructure is in a phase of rapid expansion worldwide. According to the document, the investment needs in charging infrastructure for the four countries analyzed will reach approximately 3,800 million dollars by 2035, distributed between India (1,900 million dollars), Brazil (980 million dollars), Mexico (760 million dollars) and Colombia (184 million dollars).
Likewise, the total number of public chargers in these markets is projected to increase to approximately 359,000 units in the next decade, including nearly 19,000 chargers in Colombia.
However, the study warns that infrastructure growth remains uneven, especially in emerging economies, where factors such as affordability, reliability and access to charging points continue to limit the adoption of electric vehicles.
The importance of accelerating infrastructure deployment
The analysis also points out that since 2021 the adoption of electric vehicles in Brazil, Colombia, Mexico and India has registered significant growth, driven by a greater supply of models, favorable regulations and the reduction of technological costs. Overall, sales went from about 40,000 units in 2021 to approximately 1.08 million in 2025.
The report concludes that while national governments often have authority over electricity markets and technical standards, cities can play a decisive role in accelerating the deployment of charging infrastructure.
Among the strategies identified are the use of public space to facilitate the installation of chargers, the electrification of public transport fleets and the creation of governance structures that streamline planning and permitting.
Bogota, a regional benchmark
The study highlights Bogota as one of the main examples of local leadership in electric mobility. The city has boosted the installation of charging infrastructure through regulations for the use of public space and the expansion of its fleet of electric buses.
The report also analyzes experiences in Rio de Janeiro, Mexico City, and Pune, where local authorities have implemented initiatives to promote charging infrastructure through pilot projects, integration with mass transit systems, tax incentives, and public-private partnership schemes.
Among the main recommendations aimed at cities in emerging economies, the report highlights:
- Integrate charging infrastructure into urban and land-use plans.
- Use municipal assets and public space for the installation of chargers.
- Develop public-private partnership models.
- Link charging infrastructure with public transport electrification programmes.
- Simplify permitting processes and reduce administrative barriers.
- Promote interoperability and open access systems.
- Strengthen coordination with electricity companies and national governments.
- Finally, the study highlights that the expansion of electric mobility will depend not only on the growth of vehicle sales, but also on the ability to develop reliable, accessible and equitably distributed charging networks, especially in emerging markets looking to accelerate their transition to more sustainable transport systems.
