A valid concern to some people is the overall energy supply. It is true that in order to convert the entire country to electrically powered transportation overnight, energy supply would also have to be increased proportionally. Of course in the real world, neither is possible. So the real question is that if over time there is enough capacity in Costa Rica to supply energy to EVs that replace ICEs.

As prices for renewable energy equipment drop, it becomes more economical for EV owners to install their own production capacity. A solar panel installed at a daytime parking space, for example, could charge an EV and save the owner money, paying for the initial investment in a short time.

The expectation is also that Costa Rica’s laws regarding the energy marketplace will be modernized.

Electric vehicles have an interesting effect of reducing peak consumption in practice and in computer models studied around the world. They are normally able to be charged in off-peak hours, and with specialized equipment and software, could become a revenue source for the owner. This is called two way charging, the owner could charge the battery at a lower rate and sell the energy back to the distributor at peak times, thereby earning a profit which could go towards the cost of the vehicle itself. Even if this isn’t implemented, EVs charging at night don’t stress the grid, and even helps the energy distribution network. For example, in hydro electric plants or geothermal plants the production of energy within a certain range or certain seasons is constant. When there is low demand, the operator can’t sell that surplus energy, EVs can store this energy and that helps mitigate the difference between supply and demand at different times of day, or in certain seasons.

n some countries this is a more valid argument. Even in these countries, however, the emissions from power plants that run on fossil fuels can be managed and in that case would be less contaminating than the emissions from the individual internal combustion engines. In other words, emissions are less from the single source providing power to the electric cars compared to the individual emissions from ICE vehicles under the old-fashioned system.

In Costa Rica this discussion is moot. In the last decade, over 95% of Costa Rica’s annual energy supply is produced from renewable sources. The mix includes geothermal, wind, solar, and hydro electric.

The main question then becomes the EV batteries. There are questions that must be answered as to the source of the minerals used to produce the batteries, then also as to what happens to the batteries once they may no longer be used in electric vehicles.

As new battery technologies become more feasible for mass production, this issue of carbon footprint may become unimportant, and as more batteries are produced for electric vehicles in first world markets, steps can be taken to ensure that these batteries are produce ethically and in a sustainable fashion.

In Costa Rica the issue is more a question of the batteries being disposed of properly. Fortunately, there are multiple circumstances that will combine to eliminate this issue. First, once the current batteries are depleted and the EV’s range is too limited, they must be replaced. However, the batteries are still useful, it’s just that they must now be used in a stationary application rather than a mobile one. For example, a remote community or household could use old batteries from electric vehicles to store power generated from solar panels for nocturnal use. Or they could be converted to a backup electricity system for a household or commercial enterprise, for use when the power goes out.

Both EVs and ICEs can be dangerous to operate and in case of an accident. For example, the risk of fire in a severe accident is present in both, although less probable in an electric vehicle. Mainly because it is much easier to set fire to fossil fuels from a ruptured tank than to rupture and ignite an EV battery pack.

EVs are designed with safety features regarding the protection of the battery in case of accident, also the electrical systems in case of flood or other type of immersion. EVs can even be charged in the rain!

Accidents in EVs are less likely, because the drivers avoid rapid speed changes in order to extend the autonomy of the vehicle. One advantage EVs have though, is the weight distribution is superior, batteries are heavy and can be incorporated lower in the design, so the vehicle’s center of gravity is lower, preventing roll over.

Since the re-introduction of Electric Vehicles in the global market after 2005, the common perception is that they are too expensive. This perspective has its merits, there are several reasons that new EVs introduced at this time were expensive: 1) Batteries were expensive, 2) Production Scales Were Limited, 3) Development Costs Were High.

As we begin 2020, these 3 factors are much weaker. Battery prices have dropped exponentially in the last decade. Improvements in the technology have meant less weight and smaller battery pack dimensions, while at the same time the pack has 2 to 3 times the storage capacity of the earlier models.

Manufacturers have gotten past the experimental phase, and have ramped up production quantities. So an EV model for Nissan or GM can have similar production numbers to an ICE model. So many of the savings from scale occur, in addition the production lines can be improved to become more efficient. The technology that drives EVs is more mature, so research and development costs are less for these models.

At the same time, EVs still are more expensive than similar ICE models. Battery prices continue to drop, so EVs are expected to reach parity between 2025 and 2030. At the same time, driving an EV is a better experience, and total cost of ownership over the lifetime of the vehicle is less right now. So it may be that EVs never reach parity with ICE models, particularly as fossil fuel based vehicles are phased out of the market in developed and developing countries.