The professor at the Grancolombiano Polytechnic, who also serves as an international guest researcher at the CAYEI Research Center and an international guest professor at UNICARIBE, presented the results of her research this week at the 15th International Conference on Environmental Engineering, held in Paris. This research is the result of a collaboration agreement between the University of the Caribbean (UNICARIBE) and the Grancolombiano Polytechnic University of Colombia, signed by the rectors of both institutions in 2024.

Her presentation, based on an article indexed in Scopus (Q4), addressed the role of electric mobility in reducing CO₂ emissions in Latin America and the Caribbean. The study highlights that the transport sector contributes 37.7% of greenhouse gas emissions in the region, making the electrification of transport a priority for achieving global climate goals.

Through a systematic review of the literature and a comparative analysis between battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs), it was found that BEVs offer significant emissions reductions, especially in countries with renewable energy matrices such as Paraguay, Costa Rica, Uruguay, and Brazil. Even in countries with networks more dependent on fossil fuels, such as the Dominican Republic and Cuba, BEVs show a moderate improvement in environmental performance compared to traditional vehicles.

The study also points out key barriers such as the lack of charging infrastructure, high initial costs, and data scarcity, especially in smaller countries. Finally, the researcher emphasized the need to integrate electric mobility policies with investments in clean energy and international cooperation mechanisms to achieve a real and sustained impact in the region.

Author:
M. Eng. Julián Peña – Director of the CAYEI Research Center/Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Management and Renewable Energy.