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Smart Electrical Planning, Roadmaps and Policies in Latin American Countries Through Electric Propulsion Systems: A Review

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  • Daniel Icaza

    (Laboratorio de Energías Renovables y de Simulación en Tiempo Real (ENERSIM), Centro de Investigación, Innovación y Transferencia Tecnológica, Universidad Católica de Cuenca, Cuenca 010107, Ecuador
    Red Iberoamericana de Investigación en Análisis de Sistemas Energéticos (RIASE), Universidad de León Edificio Rectorado, 24004 Leon, Spain
    Red de Investigación en Análisis de Sistemas Energéticos e Iluminación del Ecuador (RIASE-IE), Edificio Unidad Académica de Ingenierías, Universidad Católica de Cuenca, Cuenca 010101, Ecuador)

  • David Vallejo-Ramirez

    (Laboratorio de Luminotecnia, Centro de Investigación, Innovación y Transferencia Tecnológica, Universidad Católica de Cuenca, Cuenca 010107, Ecuador)

  • Mauricio Siguencia

    (Laboratorio de Luminotecnia, Centro de Investigación, Innovación y Transferencia Tecnológica, Universidad Católica de Cuenca, Cuenca 010107, Ecuador)

  • Luis Portocarrero

    (Área de Tecnologías de la Información y Comunicación, Centro de Investigación, Innovación y Transferencia Tecnológica, Universidad Católica de Cuenca, Cuenca 010107, Ecuador)

Abstract

This article presents a review of renewable energy systems in Latin America, highlighting recent advances aimed at transforming electricity markets to make them more environmentally sustainable. The transition of energy systems in these countries is closely linked to policies and legislation that promote the adoption of renewable energy, guided by roadmaps that facilitate planning and decision-making processes. Transportation stands out as a crucial sector in these transition efforts, and support for renewable energy is already driving significant changes in several continents, albeit with different levels of impact. The analysis involved a review of 180 articles published in ScienceDirect since 2000, focused on renewable energy systems in Latin America. Among them, only 40 scientific articles were identified that specifically address electric mobility systems for mass transportation, such as trams and railways, that is environmentally friendly. Currently, their contribution in Latin America is only 1.7%, and it is expected that they will play a fundamental role in the energy transition in 2050, contributing 9.3% within the electrified transportation sector. The results of the research revealed that Brazil, Cuba, Ecuador, Colombia, and Costa Rica are the countries that have carried out the most high-impact research in relation to mobility systems with 100% renewable energy systems. In Latin America, there is a limited number of authors focused on massive electric propulsion systems. The purpose of this research is to provide an overview of the energy situation related to electric propulsion systems for transport in South American countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Daniel Icaza & David Vallejo-Ramirez & Mauricio Siguencia & Luis Portocarrero, 2024. "Smart Electrical Planning, Roadmaps and Policies in Latin American Countries Through Electric Propulsion Systems: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-41, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:23:p:10624-:d:1536370
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    1. Fernando Andrade & Drielli Peyerl & Claudia A. de Mattos, 2025. "Framework for Investment in Electricity Distribution to Enable Energy Transition," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(3), pages 1-15, February.

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