Puerto Rico charging ahead with electromobility

Puerto Rico’s highway and transport authority HTA has issued a request for proposals for electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure.

The contract entails development, operation, and maintenance of a system along a fuel corridor for five years.

The work will fall under the US government’s national EV infrastructure formula program, supported by the Infrastructure Act’s highway infrastructure program.

Bidding rules will be available through October 31 and proposals will be opened on November 2, according to the procurement notice.

According to Luma Energy, which operates Puerto Rico’s power transmission and distribution grid, it is estimated that less than 1% of the US territory’s approximately 2.2mn cars are electric.

Earlier this year, Luma submitted its EV adoption plan to energy regulator NEPR.

Following a review of the plan, the watchdog has asked Luma to submit a customer outreach memorandum by year-end followed by a technical conference and consider targeting public transportation, school buses and fleets to provide low-income and disadvantaged residents with access to EV benefits, among other orders.

Local NGO Cambio argues "that a decentralized grid is much better able to handle increased penetration of electric vehicle charging infrastructure than the current centralized grid."