Bolivia records growth in electric vehicle circulation amid fuel shortages
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Bolivia registered 8,059 light electric vehicles in circulation by June 2026, according to the Latin American and Caribbean Energy Organization.
This figure places the country in 10th place among regional nations for the highest number of electric units. The growth is substantial compared to the end of 2025, when the Bolivian Automotive Chamber reported just over 1,000 fully electric vehicles on the roads. The National Institute of Statistics recorded electric vehicle imports totaling $20.3 million between January and May 2026.
This amount exceeds the $15.4 million spent during the entire year of 2025. Energy analyst Francesco Zaratti attributes this rapid increase to domestic fuel shortages, long lines at gas stations, and issues with contaminated gasoline that damaged vehicles in early 2026. These conditions have pushed many residents to choose electric cars, which are now more common in streets. While high prices between $20,000 and $30,000 limit access, the national government and local municipalities offer incentives.
President Rodrigo Paz signed Decree 5653, which reduces the Specific Consumption Tax for fully electric vehicles to 0% until the end of the year. Additionally, the city of La Paz offers a gradual exemption on annual property taxes for the first four years of ownership, starting with a 100% discount in the first year. Despite these gains, charging infrastructure remains a hurdle. The state-owned Empresa Nacional de Electricidad and two private companies operate only 13 charging stations across four departments.
This limited network restricts long-distance travel. Experts suggest that the government should expand renewable energy sources like solar and wind to power these stations, as 70% of the country's electricity currently comes from natural gas.
