1. Why Latin America Is Not One Market

A common misconception among international EV charging suppliers is that Latin America represents a unified market with harmonized standards. It does not. Each of the region’s three largest markets — Brazil, Mexico, and Chile — has developed its own regulatory framework, certification body, and technical requirements.

These differences are not arbitrary. They reflect distinct historical relationships: Brazil and Chile aligned with European IEC standards, while Mexico’s framework incorporates North American influence alongside international standards. The result is a region where a charger certified for one country may require additional testing or documentation for another.

Understanding these differences is essential for suppliers who want to serve the region efficiently. The alternative — maintaining separate product lines for each market — increases cost, complicates inventory, and slows time-to-market.

2. Brazil: The Most Structured Framework

Brazil has developed the most comprehensive regulatory framework for EV charging in Latin America. The system involves two key authorities:

ANEEL (Agência Nacional de Energia Elétrica) — The national electricity regulator. ANEEL issued Normative Resolution No. 819/2018, which first enabled the commercialization of EV charging services. Resolution No. 1,000/2021 consolidated this framework, formally recognizing recharging as a permitted service with costs at market prices, not subject to state tariff regulation.

INMETRO (Instituto Nacional de Metrologia, Qualidade e Tecnologia) — The national metrology and quality institute. INMETRO administers mandatory product certification for EV charging equipment, complying with ABNT NBR IEC 61851-1:2021. This certification is not optional — equipment without INMETRO approval cannot be legally marketed or imported for commercial use.

Recent development — Law No. 14,902/2024 (MOVER program): This law strengthens the Mobilidade Verde e Inovação program, establishing mandatory targets for energy efficiency, recyclability, and CO₂ reduction for electric and hybrid vehicles, applicable from June 2025 through 2030–2031. The law also contemplates specific technical requirements for the marketing and import of EV charging equipment.

What this means for suppliers: Brazilian certification requires testing at INMETRO-accredited laboratories. The process typically takes 3–6 months. Once certified, the product receives an INMETRO seal of conformity that must appear on the equipment and in all marketing materials.

3. Mexico: Grid Integration Focus

Mexico’s regulatory approach differs from Brazil’s. Rather than mandatory product certification, Mexico focuses on grid integration requirements administered by the Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE).

CRE Agreement No. A/108/2024 (September 2024): This agreement establishes the general administrative provisions for electromobility and the integration of EV charging infrastructure into the National Electrical System (SEN). Key provisions include:

• EV charging stations must apply for a separate electricity supply service contract
• Stations on highways must be Mode 3 or Mode 4 (DC fast charging)
• Distributed generation up to 0.5MW is permitted under existing interconnection rules
• CENACE (National Energy Control Center) or distributors may require smart charger interoperability functions
• The CRE will develop a digital electromobility platform for public information

Certification approach: Mexico does not have a mandatory product certification regime equivalent to Brazil’s INMETRO. However, equipment must comply with NOM (Norma Oficial Mexicana) standards for electrical safety, and the CRE requires technical documentation for grid interconnection studies. The NOM standards are generally aligned with IEC standards, so equipment certified to IEC 61851-1 typically meets Mexican safety requirements.

What this means for suppliers: The Mexican pathway is less prescriptive than Brazil’s. Suppliers can typically enter the market with IEC-certified equipment, supplemented by technical documentation for grid connection studies. The main requirement is Spanish-language documentation and user interfaces.

4. Chile: Technical Specification Detail

Chile has developed the most technically detailed regulatory framework in Latin America, administered by the Superintendencia de Electricidad y Combustibles (SEC).

SEC Technical Specification RIC N°15/2020: This specification establishes minimum requirements for safety, design, electromagnetic compatibility, and electrical protection for public and private EV chargers. The specification is aligned with IEC standards but adds Chile-specific technical requirements.

SEC Resolution No. 27,547 (2024): This resolution updated the Interoperability Instruction for public charging infrastructure. The instruction establishes requirements for integration with Chile’s national interoperability platform, including data reporting on connector availability and energy supplied.

Exempt Resolution No. 33,675 (2020): Requires all power supply systems and cables used in EV charging to have prior SEC approval.

National electromobility targets:

• By 2035: All new light vehicles sold in Chile must be 100% electric
• By 2050: At least 40% of the private vehicle fleet must be electrified

What this means for suppliers: Chile requires SEC approval for charging equipment. The SEC maintains a product registry and conducts conformity assessment procedures. Equipment must demonstrate compliance with TIC 15/2020 technical specifications. The process is more detailed than Mexico’s but less prescriptive than Brazil’s INMETRO certification.

5. Connector Standards: Regional Alignment

Despite regulatory differences, Latin America has converged on similar connector standards:

Key insight: CCS2 is the dominant DC fast charging connector across Latin America. Mexico is the outlier, explicitly recognizing both CCS1 and CCS2 due to North American market influence. For suppliers, this means a CCS2-focused product line covers Brazil and Chile, with CCS1 optional capability for Mexico.

6. Grid Connection: Who Reviews Your Applicati

7. Smart Charging and Grid Integration

All three countries are moving toward requiring smart charging capabilities:

Brazil: ANEEL is developing specific regulations on controllable demand, which would allow end users to offer demand reduction services.

Mexico: CENACE or distributors may require advanced interoperability functions for smart chargers based on connection studies or reliability needs.

Chile: The updated Interoperability Instruction requires integration with the national platform, including real-time data reporting on connector availability and energy supplied.

Implication for suppliers: Chargers with OCPP 1.6J or 2.0.1 native support will meet current and near-future smart charging requirements across all three markets. Suppliers should verify that their OCPP implementation supports the specific messages required by each country’s regulatory framework.

8. Practical Procurement Advice

For Brazil-focused suppliers: Prioritize INMETRO certification. Factor 3–6 months into product launch timelines. Ensure Portuguese-language documentation and user interfaces are included in your product development cycle.

For Mexico-focused suppliers: Focus on grid interconnection documentation. Prepare technical packages for CRE connection studies. Ensure NOM compliance documentation is available. Spanish-language localization is essential.

For Chile-focused suppliers: Engage with SEC early in the certification process. Prepare technical documentation demonstrating TIC 15/2020 compliance. Plan for interoperability platform integration requirements.

For regional suppliers: Consider an INMETRO-first strategy. Brazilian certification is the most rigorous in the region. If your product line meets INMETRO requirements, you can typically adapt the same hardware for Mexico and Chile with localization modifications rather than engineering changes.

Data sources: CRE Agreement No. A/108/2024 (Mexico); ANEEL Normative Resolutions 819/2018, 1,000/2021, and Law No. 14,902/2024 (Brazil); SEC Technical Specification RIC N°15/2020 and Resolution No. 27,547/2024 (Chile). Regulatory information current as of September 2026.