Electrifying the last mile in Central America

Convenience; risks and opportunities for corporate fleets

The electrification of last mile fleets in Central America is already an economically viable decision on urban and peri-urban routes with predictable daily journeys and return to base. The overall benefits (lower cost per kilometre; reduced maintenance; improved ESG and driving experience) can outweigh the challenges (initial CAPEX; charging infrastructure; operational management; insurance and availability of models in certain niches). The key is not "all or nothing"; but rather sequencing the change with measurable pilots; prioritising countries/cities with better conditions and designing the operation to "charge when you can" (home; base; public; DC in corridors); rather than "fill up when you need to".
Our recommendation is a phased rollout: 90–120-day pilots; TCO and carbon metrics; energy agreements and charging SLAs; then scaling in waves with a focus on short routes (<150–200 km/day); night shifts; and centers with available power.

Why now?

• Fuel volatility: the differential compared to the electricity tariff (especially off-peak) favours vans and light trucks in last-mile delivery with return to depot.
  
• Maintenance: fewer moving parts (no oil/filter changes); more durable brakes due to regeneration; greater mechanical availability.
  
• Customer and brand: quieter deliveries with lower emissions; valuable for retail chains and brands with ESG goals.
  
• Suitability for use: 99% of car journeys are less than ~160 km (100 miles); within the useful range of most current BEVs; with overnight recharging; range anxiety is rarely an operational constraint in last-mile delivery.
  

Advantages; disadvantages and risks (fleet perspective)

Advantages

• TCO: lower cost per km when charging at depot/home during off-peak hours; less scheduled maintenance.
  
• Availability: fewer stops at the workshop; more effective delivery hours.
  
• Driving experience: instant torque; smoother and quieter driving; positive impact on driver safety and fatigue.
  
• ESG and tenders: reduction in emissions and noise opens doors to contracts with "green" requirements.
  
  
• CAPEX: higher purchase price in some segments (although falling).
• Infrastructure: sizing contracted power; AC points at base (and in homes where applicable) and DC only for critical routes.
• Insurance and residuals: policies (battery) and residual values require specific technical negotiation.
  
• Operation: route planning and charging windows; driver training; monitoring of charging SLAs and equipment uptime.
  
• Model availability: solid offering in vans and light trucks; more limited in heavy trucks or very intensive applications.
  

• Automatic reimbursement for electricity at home (where applicable); access to charging at company facilities and; for extreme travel profiles; ICE holiday vehicle as a contingency valve.
• Telemetry and analytics from day one: duty cycles; kWh/100 km; battery degradation; idling and driving style.
• Energy contracts: tiered pricing and demand management to flatten night-time peaks.
• Infrastructure SLA: availability (>98–99%); fault response; OCPP settlement; and electrical safety.
  

• Route analysis (km/day; topography; windows); possible charging points; base power; risks.
  
• Reference TCO matrix (capex; energy; maintenance; insurance; residual; carbon).
• 5–15 vehicles per prioritised country/city.
• KPIs: cost per km; kWh/100 km; uptime; punctuality; charging incidents; customer complaints.
• Quick wins: adjust windows; charging locations and driver training.
• Governance: Pilot PMO with biweekly meetings.

• Extend to short urban routes with return to base and overnight AC charging.
• Introduce DC where the business model requires it (delivery times; commercial SLAs).
• Standardise SLAs with charging operators and energy contracts.

• R1: Underinvestment in charging → Technical sizing; phased rollout; agreements with utilities and operators; SLA of >98–99%.
• R2: TCO not compliant → Pilot with "shadow TCO"; telemetry; continuous route and load improvement.
• R3: Insurance/warranties → Policies with battery coverage and repair times; uptime contracts.
• R4: Internal resistance → Training and internal ambassadors; start in countries/cities with greater acceptance; as suggested in the ERA paper (start step by step with pilots).
• R5: Regulation and incentives → Prioritise markets with clear frameworks; plan the fleet to be profitable without incentives in the medium term.
  

• Mindset shift: "charge when you can" (home; business; public; DC).
• Recommendation to move forward step by step and start with ambassadors and countries with greater acceptance.
  
• Fleet policy practice: home reimbursements; business charging and ICE holidays as a contingency
• Lower-emission transitional alternatives (HVO; biofuels; gas; hydrogen) when BEV is not yet viable

Disadvantages/risks to be managed

Conditions for success (operational first)

Charge instead of refuel. A change in mindset is key: structure operations to charge when possible (at home, at the depot, on public roads, and using DC fast charging for quick replenishment en route).

Fleet policy and processes

Phased approach (what works in Central America)

Step 1 — Diagnosis and business case (2–4 weeks).

Step 2 — Pilot (90–120 days).

Step 3 — Scaling in waves. Note: not every profile is optimal for BEV today. Where infrastructure or usage prevents this, consider lower-emission alternative fuels (e.g. HVO, biofuels, gas) as a transitional step, while maintaining the strategic course towards BEV.

Which models to prioritise and where (practical vision)

The regional offering is dynamic, but there are already valid options for urban delivery (vans and light trucks): Maxus (eDeliver vans, T90EV pickup), BYD (T3 and other commercial options), JAC (light EV truck), Foton (light EV truck), and in some markets the Ford E-Transit. We recommend multi-brand RFPs with 5–7-year TCO criteria, including battery warranties based on energy delivered, spare parts availability, and access to certified workshops.

Key risks and mitigation

Conclusion

The last mile in Central America already offers winning business cases for electric vehicles when operations, energy, and infrastructure are designed in an integrated manner. It’s not just a matter of “buying vehicles”; it’s about reconfiguring processes, contracts, and operating culture. An approach based on measurable pilots and disciplined scaling reduces risks and accelerates returns. Where BEVs are not yet viable, alternative fuels can provide a bridge without losing strategic direction.

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References from the ERA Group white paper used:

• Mindset shift: “charge when possible” (home, business, public, DC).
• Recommendation to proceed step by step, starting with ambassadors and countries with higher acceptance.
• Fleet policy practice: home rebates, business charging, and using ICE vehicles on vacation as a contingency.
• Transitional, lower-emission alternatives (HVO, biofuels, gas, hydrogen) when BEVs are not yet viable.