Minister Clyde Elder said EV standards and more chargers are needed. The Chamber will host an EV conference.
Minister in the Ministry of Public Utilities Clyde Elder has called for national standards for electric and hybrid vehicles and more charging stations as sales of those vehicles grow in Trinidad and Tobago.
The International Energy Agency, which advises governments on energy policy and security, says more than 20% of new cars sold worldwide in 2024 were electric, according to the Trinidad and Tobago Energy Chamber. Elder said that if the country is serious about the transition, it must also be serious about policy, infrastructure and standards. He said that means establishing national EV and hybrid standards and regulations and expanding charging infrastructure. It also means moving the government’s fleet to hybrid and electric vehicles so that the state leads by example, and adopting smarter technologies that improve accessibility and user experience.
Elder said the government is already acquiring electric and hybrid vehicles, including a number for the Ministry of Homeland Security. He said private entities are also looking to enter the market and that more charging stations will be needed around the country.
Karen Yipchuk, president of the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce, said the shift from combustion engines to more climate-friendly vehicles is a way to diversify the economy. The chamber has partnered with the Apexis Risk Innovation Group to host the Caribbean’s first conference and exhibition dedicated to electric and hybrid vehicles. It will focus on safety and readiness in the context of sustained mobility, including educating members and the national community on the safe use of the vehicles.
