In October of 2014 we purchased a 2011 Mitsubishi i-Miev plug-in in electric vehicle. This allows to offer our PASS service in an environmentally friendly way. And not just in an abstract sense, the car does the following for the environment:
- Zero Emissions while Operating: as opposed to a hybrid that burns fuel, the all electric i-Miev has only an electric engine.
- Zero Emissions while Charging: we charge the vehicle at night, using the CNFL’s 3 tier rate plan, we use the lowest nocturnal rate. While 95-100% of all electricity generated in Costa Rica is from renewable sources, the bunker fuel generators that ICE uses are the most expensive source of energy. So they are only used when hydro reservoirs are low and during peak consumption hours.
- Zero Noise Pollution: The engine operates silently, so the only noise the vehicle generates is from the tires and the radio.
- Reduce: Of the 3Rs for waste management (reuse, recycle, reduce), reduction may be the most important – using less to begin with. An electric motor has fewer moving parts than any internal combustion engine, in fact it only has one. Parts that commonly wear out on a traditional car don’t even exist in the i-Miev : oil, filters, spark plugs, emissions control pieces, pumps, to name a few.
Since purchasing the i-Miev, we have performed nearly all of the PASS services using this vehicle. The only case where we can’t use it is if there are more than 3 clients coming along. Another case would be if we were looking for a very special vehicle, and we would have to drive much farther than usual.
Performance and Range
The vehicle performs admirably for us, and we are very happy with the purchase. For anyone living in an area with good roads, the i-Miev is an excellent option and we would be pleased to provide any information on electric vehicles in Costa Rica to anyone who is curious.
Beginning in 2018, the new law promoting the use of electric vehicles (EVs) required electrical service providers to implement charging networks. Also private initiatives to provide charging points have blossomed. At conectaEV.com , there is an up-to-the-minute map of charging points in Costa Rica. The L2 code designates 240v chargers, which are the normal household type charges called semi-fast here. The L3 are fast chargers, that will charge any EV to from 0% to 80% capacity in 30 minutes.
The PlugShare App is available for mobile devices, and not only shows you the closest charging point, it also allows for connected users to message each other in order to more easily share the charging points at busy times. As of late 2019 there were nearly 30 quick charging points installed nationwide between ICE, JASEC, ESPH, and COOPESANTOS public utility companies. And more than 200 L2 charging points. This number is expected to double in 2020.
If you have an electric vehicle, join the association (we have) ASOMOVE
If you have a question regarding this, please use our Comment or Question form.
If you would like to purchase a new or used, electric or hybrid vehicle, please send your inquiry via our PASS form