ELECTRIC MOBILITY FEELS LIKE A REALITY

After a broad process of discussion, on October 27, Bill No. 162 that encourages electric mobility in land transport was approved in the third debate, after it was presented for consideration by the National Assembly on September 16, 2019.

With the approval of the Executive, our country will have a regulatory framework that will establish the main parameters to allow the development and operation of electric mobility, leveraging the energy transformation process and the commitments acquired by Panama as a subscriber of the Paris Agreement.

This bill defines the outline to achieve a staggered transition of public transportation that uses fossil fuels, to electric buses; sets incentives to strengthen the electric vehicle market; determines particular considerations for future real estate developments, as well as it seeks an ease of commercialization and promotion of charging stations, among other additional considerations.

Many relevant terms and conditions are yet to be defined and will be visible through a regulation that must be issued, but along the way, it is important to encourage the development of suitable infrastructure and user awareness for the reduction of greenhouse gases to see the tangible benefit that the use of renewable sources brings for sustainable mobility.

Although the correct application and development of this regulation entails an important effort, it must be always sought to unite the various sectors that impact this public policy to guide them to this common purpose and with it, make it a reality.

Guest pen:

Mariel Diaz

Degree in law with extensive experience in the electricity sector.