Bolivia's persistent fuel shortages and soaring prices, compounded by a scandal over contaminated 'junk gasoline', are driving a growing number of Bolivians to switch from fossil fuel-powered vehicles to electric cars.
Personal Stories of Transition
Simón Huanca, a 53-year-old Indigenous artisan, imported a Chinese electric car to navigate El Alto, Bolivia's highest city. He uses the vehicle to transport his family and alpaca wool for his weaving workshop. Huanca installed a dedicated charger at home due to the scarcity of public charging stations—only three serve the metropolitan area of El Alto and La Paz, home to over 1.6 million people. 'Since last year, I've been trying to get an electric car to save on costs,' he said.
Ever Vera, a 54-year-old lawyer, also made the switch. 'The investment exceeds $36,000, but I no longer waste valuable working hours searching for fuel or managing vehicle repairs,' he noted.
Fuel Crisis and Policy Changes
Bolivia's energy supply disruptions worsened in 2023 under former President Luis Arce, who maintained fuel subsidies that cost the state over $2 billion annually. The country imports 80% of its diesel and 55% of its gasoline. Long queues at gas stations became common. In December 2025, President Rodrigo Paz ended the subsidy, causing energy prices to nearly double. Shortly after, transport operators reported poor-quality gasoline damaging vehicles. Paz blamed contamination with gum and manganese left in storage tanks since the Arce administration, sparking strikes and resignations at the state oil company.
The 'junk gasoline' scandal and the Iran war further fueled discontent, prompting many to consider electric vehicles.
Electric Vehicle Growth
According to the Single Registry for Tax Administration, electric vehicles in Bolivia rose from 500 to 3,352 in five years, with most growth in the last two years during the fuel crisis. Still, they represent a tiny fraction of the 2.6 million vehicles in the country. Most imports come from China, followed by the United States.
Freddy Koch, an electromobility expert with Swisscontact, described the growth as 'exponential' and predicted the number could triple in two to three years, as more affluent buyers lead the way and broader appeal grows. President Paz also eliminated import tariffs on all automobiles, boosting competition and lowering costs.
The rise in electric vehicles has created new business opportunities. Marcelo Laura, a 38-year-old electrician, started installing residential and commercial charging stations a month ago. 'There aren't many public charging stations,' he said. 'A year ago, I thought it was practically impossible to think that people would actually be bringing in electric cars.'
