Electrifying passenger transportation in Mexico is a possible goal , but it is not without obstacles, unlike in other countries where the models are already established.
Within the framework of the international panel Electric Buses in the Global South: Kenya, Chile and Mexico , organized by the Alliance for Sustainable Mobility , specialists addressed real solutions beyond rhetoric.
The case of Metrobús Line 3 in Mexico City was one of the most cited examples. The decision to replace the entire fleet with electric buses was not only technical but also strategic.
The choice was between continuing with diesel for another 10 years or opting for a cleaner alternative. That was the window of opportunity that was seized to advance the issue, according to Santiago Alanís, general manager of MIVSA at Mobility ADO .
The change involved everything from redesigning the electrical infrastructure to training all operators and mechanics.
“It’s not enough to plug them in like household appliances; it takes five megawatts to power the 60 buses, the same amount of electricity as a medium-sized city,” Alanís explained.
Beyond the equipment, one of the key challenges was adjusting the financial model. MIVSA renegotiated its contract to a 15-year term, which allowed the investment to be amortized.
“The initial cost is higher, but the long-term savings in maintenance and energy make up for it,” he explained.
In the case of Flecha Amarilla , the commitment extends beyond the nation’s capital. The company is testing electric mobility on foreign routes, a segment often left out of public policy.
Ulises Hernández, the company’s Director of Intelligence, emphasized that one of the biggest challenges is the lack of standardization in regulatory frameworks. “Each state has different rules. If we could standardize them, it would be much easier to accelerate the transition,” he stated.
Santiago Alanís and Ulises Hernández agreed that, although Mexico has a National Mobility Strategy and a general law on the subject, projects are still limited. As discussed in the panel, the country needs to better coordinate its efforts, bring together public and private actors, and ensure legal certainty to attract investment.
For Isabel Studer, president of Global Sustainability , Mexico has everything it needs to be a leader in this agenda. But the next step doesn’t depend on technology, but rather on the willingness to build collaborative solutions. “The pioneers are already here. Now it’s time to create the conditions so they’re not left alone,” she concluded.
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