Fitzgerald Cantero Piali, Director of Studies, Projects and Information at the Latin American and Caribbean Energy Organization (OLACDE), carried out an academic agenda at the Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral (ESPOL), where he delivered the keynote lecture “Impact of the Energy Transition and Electric Mobility” before authorities, faculty, and students of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Production Sciences.
During his presentation, Cantero outlined the regional outlook for electromobility and highlighted that, according to the map developed by OLACDE, Ecuador ranks seventh in two indicators for 2024:
- A Latin American and Caribbean country with one of the largest numbers of electric buses in circulation (106 units).
- A country with one of the largest networks of charging stations (144 points).
Cantero emphasized that the transition to electric mobility requires not only infrastructure and technology, but also “a cultural shift,” meaning that citizens need to embrace practices such as charging vehicles at home. Among the technical benefits, he noted that between 15% and 84% of the energy in an internal combustion vehicle is lost, whereas in an electric vehicle the loss is only about 11%. Adding to this is the region’s potential to generate electricity from renewable sources such as hydro, solar, and wind power.
He also highlighted that Ecuador already has an advanced legal framework in place that facilitates the adoption of electric vehicles.
Juan Peralta, coordinator of ESPOL’s Master’s Program in Energy Systems and a member of the National Energy Efficiency Committee, emphasized that the modernization of transformers “will be an essential component in ensuring the capacity and quality of supply,” and that tax incentives could accelerate the adoption of this technology.
OLACDE’s participation in this event reinforces its commitment to promoting policies and actions that foster a just, sustainable, and inclusive energy transition in the region.
