The discussion about electromobility in Mexico usually focuses on reducing emissions, but for this transition to also strengthen the country’s competitiveness, it is necessary to solve structural challenges such as electricity generation, charging infrastructure, and the modernization of public transport.
According to David Bonilla, a researcher at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) , the electrification of transportation cannot be analyzed in isolation, since its economic impact will depend on the country’s ability to develop the necessary infrastructure and public policies to accompany this transformation.
In an interview with T21, he explained that, in freight transport, the railway maintains a cost advantage per ton moved; however, the increase in the capacity of tractor-trailers, particularly double-trailer trucks, has reduced that difference and put pressure on the competitiveness of the rail mode.
“Trains can indeed have many benefits that go beyond costs, such as reducing the number of road accidents, decreasing local pollution and also carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions,” he noted.
Bonilla believes that Mexico is progressing slowly in the adoption of heavy electric vehicles compared to markets like China or Germany , where this type of technology is already beginning to be used in commercial operations.
He explained that one of the main challenges for electric tractor-trailers is the size and weight of the batteries, which limits their range and efficiency in high-capacity units. Therefore, he estimated that electrification will first advance in urban delivery and last-mile delivery vehicles, where range requirements are lower.
However, he warned that the biggest challenge is not solely technological.
“We do not have enough electricity generation in the country if there were a sudden increase in electricity demand,” he stated.
He added that the limited availability of strategic minerals such as lithium for battery manufacturing means that Mexico needs an industrial policy that identifies and addresses these bottlenecks before electrification reaches a larger scale.
Electromobility requires a comprehensive vision
In addition to freight transport, Bonilla considered that the discussion on electromobility should not be limited to replacing combustion vehicles with electric ones.
The specialist pointed out that one of the least discussed aspects is that electrification, by itself, will not solve problems such as urban congestion if it is not accompanied by greater investment in public transport.
“The transition to electromobility has that Achilles’ heel of not solving the space problem,” he argued.
In that regard, he stated that electromobility must be taken into account in a comprehensive way, such as the gradual replacement of public transport units that operate with diesel or gasoline with hybrid or electric buses, as well as the expansion of mass transport systems where there is sufficient demand, which would contribute to reducing emissions and improving mobility in cities.
Regarding the energy sources that should accompany the transition, Bonilla indicated that electrification does not imply relying exclusively on renewable energy. He explained that, due to their intermittent nature, technologies such as solar and wind power need to be complemented by other generation sources that guarantee the electricity supply .
He also highlighted the potential of distributed generation for homes and businesses to produce some of the electricity they consume and to power electric vehicles with their own energy . However, he considered it essential to develop regulatory and economic incentives to accelerate these schemes.
Finally, he warned that delaying the modernization of transport has costs that are not usually accounted for , such as higher health expenses resulting from pollution, greater dependence on fossil fuels, increased emissions, and economic losses associated with congestion.
“If you have an efficient public transportation system, journeys will be faster and you will be able to distribute your daily life time in a better way,” he stressed.
The Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation (SICT) reported at the end of 2025 that there were 82 electric vehicles in the federal freight transport service, a figure that barely represented 0.01% of the more than 762,800 units that at that time made up this fleet.
Furthermore, the charging infrastructure for electric vehicles in Mexico grew 26% year-on-year by the end of 2025, adding 56,726 public and private charging positions , according to the Electromobility Barometer of the Electromobility Association (EMA) , reflecting a growing adoption of electric cars.
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