A 2018 law required utilities to install fast chargers every 50 miles on national highways, while tax breaks and cheaper Chinese models such as BYD helped drive uptake.
Costa Ricans are buying EVs at roughly three times the US rate, aided by lower-cost vehicles that face steep tariffs in the United States.
But the network remains uneven: many sites have only one charger, some reportedly fail, and rural roads and relatively recent electrification still complicate longer trips.
Costa Rica's EV boom runs on cheap Chinese cars. Can its struggling charging network keep pace?
Is Costa Rica's EV success a green model for the world or a risky bet on foreign technology?