The Latin American and Caribbean Energy Organization (OLACDE), together with the Department of Electrical Engineering (DIE) of the University of Santiago de Chile (Usach), concluded the first International Diploma in Electromobility, a pioneering initiative aimed at strengthening regional capacities in a key area of the energy transition.
Delivered in a virtual format, the program brought together more than 30 graduates from 15 countries across Latin America and the Caribbean, who took part in a training process focused on analyzing the main challenges, trends, and future outlook of electromobility in the region.
The closing session featured three keynote presentations. The first was delivered by Elaine Santos, founder of the Lithium Observatory at the University of São Paulo, who addressed the strategic role of critical minerals—such as lithium and cobalt—in the development of electromobility and its associated value chains.
The second presentation was delivered by Silvia Rojas, Executive Director of the Costa Rican Electric Mobility Association (ASOMOVE), who presented an overview of the current state of electric mobility in Latin America, with particular emphasis on the experience and progress of Costa Rica.
The third presentation was delivered by Paola Tapia, Director of the Metropolitan Public Transport Authority (DTPM) of Chile, who shared insights into Santiago’s public transport ecosystem, highlighting advances in the electrification of urban transport.
For her part, the Director of Integration, Access, and Energy Security at OLACDE highlighted: “High-level academic training is undoubtedly a catalyst for the transformation of our region, and this vision of educational excellence translates into high-impact learning experiences such as this international diploma in electromobility.”
Finally, Andrés Rebolledo, Executive Secretary of OLACDE, emphasized the importance of this program as a space for collaboration between academia, the public sector, and the private sector, strengthening capacity building to advance electromobility. He also underlined that this effort contributes to the decarbonization of transport and the construction of a more sustainable and inclusive energy future.
