CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
As the world population and its economic needs continue to increase, demand for energy
is bound to increase as well. High energy consumption has become a major problem throughout
the industrialized world. This energy demand is largely being met by fossil fuels, which are
limited in supply, expensive, and polluting to the environment. With increasing globalization,
transportation has become essential for a wide variety of activities ranging from everyday
commutes to international commerce. Thus, people have become dependent on fossil fuels for
nearly every facet of their lives. One promising approach to alleviate environmental problems is
to utilize alternative energy sources to power automobiles. Vehicles powered by electricity have
emerged as a potential solution, as they can release zero tailpipe emissions provided that the
electricity they use is produced from select renewable sources (Garthwaite, 2009).

On the island of Puerto Rico, transportation powered by internal combustion engines
(ICEs) has become a growing problem (Marquez, 2005). The increasing number of vehicles has
produced high pollution volumes, which has led to adverse effects for the environment and
human health. Introducing electric vehicles (EVs) to Puerto Rico could help reduce both the
island‟s high dependence on fossil fuel imports and the elevated level of pollution. EVs also have
the inherent capability to stimulate the local economy by generating new employment
opportunities. There are many important factors to consider with the introduction of EVs in
Puerto Rico, including the need for proper infrastructure, governmental support and marketing,
and social approval.

The large-scale introduction of EVs requires specific infrastructure. While traffic and road
conditions can affect the performance of EVs, the most important factor to consider is the
installation of a network of charging stations. As a case in point, Israel, has vowed to implement
EVs nationwide by the end of 2011 and as a part of this effort, charging stations are to be
strategically placed throughout its territory along with the installation of home and parking lot
chargers (Roth, 2008). Additionally, EVs can also have a significant effect on the electric grid;
studies have shown that charging of EVs can possibly increase electricity demand by more than
50% (Hartmann & Odzemir, 2011). Governmental support is another essential factor in the
successful introduction of EVs. In Japan, the government has allotted free parking spaces in its
major cities for EV drivers and has permitted EVs to travel in designated highway carpool lanes
(Nansai et al., 2001). Moreover, tax credits have already been provided in many countries for EV
buyers (Yeshayahou, 2011). In an effort to reduce indirect EV emissions, the governments of
Ireland and Denmark have enacted laws which require the production of up to one fifth of their
total electricity output from renewable sources (Schwartz, 2009; Travers, 2010). In Puerto Rico,
the Energy Affairs Administration (EAA) is also already providing credits for the production of
energy from renewable sources (Pabón, 2010). Perhaps the most important factor in the
successful implementation of any new technology is societal support. Studies have shown that
while the public is generally interested in the purchase of EVs, their advantages are still not fully
understood (Kuo, 2010).

As observed in the popular media, EVs are gradually being introduced in many nations.
However, the details of bringing EVs to Puerto Rico have not yet been properly researched and
will need to be assessed before EVs can become competitors with fossil fuel powered cars. In
order to ensure that EVs can operate in Puerto Rico, the local electric grid must be able to support
the increased electricity demand. Public charging stations will also need to be installed at
strategic locations.

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