Costa Rica’s 2018 law obliges utilities to place fast chargers every 50 miles on national highways, a policy that has helped electric cars capture roughly 20% of new vehicle sales. Jack Ewing rented a BYD Yuan – marketed locally as the SF1 and priced near $30,000 – to test the system on a three‑day road trip from San José to the Pacific coast.

On the descent from the 3,800‑foot capital, the car’s range gauge showed 400 km, yet steep downhill stretches barely drained the battery. After two hours the vehicle arrived with 80% charge, but a stop at Hacienda Barú revealed a non‑functional charger. Staff improvised by feeding power from a standard outlet, topping the pack to over 80% by morning.

Local experts like University of Costa Rica professor Aramis Pérez note that most chargers use incompatible plugs and often lack functional displays, forcing owners to rely on night‑time home charging. A new law permitting non‑utility firms to sell electricity aims to expand the network, and Grupo ICE’s CEO Marco Acuña says the shift will not affect the utility’s revenue. Night charging keeps the EV experience viable in this small market.