Chile’s EV Charging Boom: Opportunities and Roadblocks Every Operator Should Know

1. Executive Summary

Chile’s electrification trajectory is robust: EV sales are accelerating, and power infrastructure capacity has surged. Yet, key challenges persist—chiefly, the uneven geographic distribution of charging stations and policy gaps around installer support and residential access. B2B stakeholders must strategize across four dimensions: regulatory navigation, infrastructure equity, demand-side stimulation, and business model innovation.

Critical insights:

• Installed charging capacity has tripled year-on-year, but public access remains limited outside Santiago—a major structural barrier.
• Chile’s Electromobility Roadmap and National Strategy set ambitious emissions targets (2035 for 100% zero-emission new vehicle sales), but enforcement hinges on complementary policies on charging equity.
• Distinct customer groups face diverse needs: from regulatory alignment (public utilities) to turnkey integration and ROI assurance (commercial developers), and robust technical frameworks and lead generation (installers).

This report offers analytical clarity to guide Anari Energy in designing targeted offerings and partnerships to catalyze infrastructure expansion nationwide.

2. Current Development Status

2.1 Accelerating Infrastructure Growth vs. Spatial Disparity

By April 2025, registered installed capacity in Chile’s EV charging infrastructure reached 38 MW, a nearly 400% increase over the previous year, although the number of public charging points fell from 182 to 166—a 8.7% decline. From March to May 2025, public connectors rose from 1,097 to 1,704—a 55.3% increase, yet 61% of municipalities still lack any public chargers.

Charging station typologies are skewed toward lower-power options: roughly 76% of public charging points are slow or semi-rapid (below 50 kW), with only 21% fast chargers (50–150 kW) and 3% ultra-rapid.

EV adoption is expanding rapidly. Between January and February 2025:

• 110 new public charging points were added—a 292.9% increase year-on-year.
• Installed public-sector charging capacity grew by 11 MW—a massive 1,109% increase.

Yet, growth is geographically concentrated: the Metropolitan Region (Santiago) accounts for at least 64–69% of all public connectors—over 1,100 units out of 1,700+.

2.2 EV Sales Momentum

Plug-in vehicle sales are surging: electrified vehicle registrations (~3,761 units) rose ~197% in early 2025 compared to 2024; EVs now comprise approximately 8.7% of light and medium vehicle sales, up from 1.2% in 2018.

3. National Industrial Policies and Regulatory Framework

3.1 National Electromobility Strategy & Roadmap

Chile's National Electromobility Strategy (2021) establishes ambitious zero-emission goals:

• By 2035: 100% of new light/medium vehicles, public transport, and machinery sales must be zero-emission.
• Extension for heavy-duty freight and intercity buses by 2045.

Complementing this, the 2024–2026 Electromobility Roadmap stipulates:

• 100% zero-emission sales for light/medium vehicles by 2035; 40% of private fleet by 2050.
• Key action areas: charging infrastructure promotion, training, road safety, transport decarbonization, and regulatory frameworks.

3.2 Electromobility Agreement 2025

The 2025 Electromobility Agreement—a public–private initiative—expands stakeholder involvement (from 166 to 175 institutions), aiming to decentralize infrastructure planning, enforce interoperability, and build standardized safety protocols.

3.3 Interoperability & Industry Collaboration

A Memorandum of Understanding between CharIN and AVEC focuses on interoperability, technical training, and implementation of ISO 15118 in Chile’s charging network.

3.4 Tax Incentives & Sector-Specific Electrification

Chile offers exemptions for EV road taxes (two-year relief) and has mobility pilots like “Mi Taxi Eléctrico.” The public bus sector is aggressively decarbonizing. Santiago is adding dozens of electric buses annually, with ambitious targets to have fully electric fleets in city mass transit by 2035 and nationwide public transport electrification by 2040.

4. Customer Segmentation: Types, Characteristics & Needs

4.1 Government & Public Utilities

Characteristics:

• Policy and infrastructure stewardship.
• Responsible for equitable deployment and national consistency.

Needs:

• Policy design advisors, supporting decentralized station placement beyond Santiago.
• Standardized technologies and safety guidelines.
• Analytics to map underserved regions and forecast demand.

4.2 Charging Operators & Energy Companies

Characteristics:

• Commercial entities such as Enel X Way, Copec Voltex developing networked charging solutions.

Needs:

• Site selection frameworks and ROI modeling.
• Modular, scalable charging hardware.
• Integration with energy management systems (e.g., V2G-ready units).

4.3 Commercial Real Estate & Retail Service Industries

Characteristics:

• Developers, shopping centers, hotels, and petrol stations aiming to differentiate or attract EV customers.

Needs:

• Turnkey package: installation, payment systems, user interface.
• Clear ROI projections, footfall conversion data.
• Fast-charge ubiquity in high-traffic locations.

4.4 Fleets & Enterprises

Characteristics:

• Logistics providers, mining companies, electrified taxi services, public transport operators.

Needs:

• High-throughput depot chargers.
• Integrated fleet energy management.
• Reliability and service-level guarantees.

4.5 Installers & System Integrators

Characteristics:

• Local and regional contractors, integrators focused on infrastructure deployment.

Needs:

• Technical training on advanced charger models, grid interconnection.
• Clear regulatory and permitting guidelines.
• Pipeline forecasts to plan capacity and staffing.

5. Opportunities and Challenges in the Chilean Market

5.1 Opportunities

• Robust Policy Backdrop: Chile's strategy and roadmaps provide clarity for long-term infrastructure investment.
• Electrification Momentum: Surging EV sales and public transport electrification catalyze demand.
• Tech Standardization & Interoperability Movement: Alignment with ISO 15118 and CharIN advocacy fosters easier scaling.
• Underserved Regions: 60%+ of municipalities lack public chargers—opens markets beyond Santiago.
• Institutional Partnerships: Public utilities and fleets offer structured, high-ticket deployments (e.g., electric bus depots).
• Renewable Energy Advantage: Chile’s expanding clean energy grid can support EV charging sustainably.

5.2 Challenges

• Geographic Imbalance: Infrastructure overly concentrated in Santiago; peripheral regions lag.
• Underinvestment in Public Chargers: Installed capacity surged, but public charging units are declining in number.
• Insufficient Fast Charging: Majority of connectors are slow/semi-rapid—limiting usability for fleet and long-distance travel.
• Regulatory Gaps: Home charger mandates and installer guidance are still under development.
• High Capex per Charger: Particularly for fast-charging deployment in non-urban settings.
• Market Fragmentation: Multiple customer types with divergent needs complicate channel strategy.

6. Conclusion & Strategic Guidance

Chile presents a strategically accelerating yet uneven EV charging environment. For Anari Energy to lead, the following strategic imperatives are advised:

6.1 Target Underserved Regions with Township Strategies

• Build structured pilot programs in municipalities lacking chargers.
• Partner with regional governments and local integrators to catalyze adoption.

6.2 Promote Fast and Smart Charging Solutions

• Develop modular, retrofittable fast charging units (50–150 kW).
• Integrate V2G and IoT features to future-proof installations.

6.3 Design Plug-and-Play Offerings for Commercial Real Estate & Fleets

• Bundle hardware, services (payment systems, maintenance), and ROI modeling.
• Showcase case studies (e.g., public bus depots) to build credibility.

6.4 Support Installer Enablement & Regulatory Advocacy

• Offer accredited training in partnership with AVEC or CharIN.
• Engage in policy dialogue—advocate for home-charger mandates and zoning codes.

6.5 Align with National Agendas & Decarbonization Roadmaps

• Position Anari Energy as a partner delivering on strategic 2035/2050 goals.
• Support standard setting via ISO15118 and interoperability compliance.

By aligning offerings with customer-specific needs, addressing territorial parity, and leveraging policy momentum, Anari Energy can build market leadership in Chile’s EV charging sector—bridging capability gaps and shaping the electrified future.