Mexicali, Baja California – An Electric vehicle charging station in Baja California is moving from concept toward construction, with officials saying work could start in Mexicali by the end of 2025 or early 2026. The project, framed as the state’s first fast-charging “electrolinera,” aims to pair renewable power with growing demand from hybrid and electric vehicles, including the newly introduced electric taxis.
The initiative is a joint effort between the State Energy Commission (CEE), the Sustainable Mobility Institute (IMOS), and a private partner tied to TPM and Electric Cab, the company behind the electric taxi fleet. Joaquín Gutiérrez Ley, director general of the CEE, said the project is now in the final stages of design and budgeting for the charging infrastructure.
“We have a small farm here on Ninth Street, a solar farm on Calzada Independencia and Ninth Street. We want to convert it into a solar-powered electric charging station, and that will be for sale to the public,” Gutiérrez Ley said, framing the site as a prototype with broader ambitions.
The planned station would be the first fast-charging hub in Baja California. Currently, the region relies on small, slow chargers that limit usability for drivers needing quick turnaround. Officials plan to make the new facility operate similarly to a gas station in terms of speed, targeting charging sessions of roughly 15 minutes. Most of the energy supplied is expected to come from renewable sources, beginning with on-site solar generation.
The private company involved, linked to TPM and Electric Cab, is expected to invest in the facility. That partnership would allow electric taxis to use the station as part of their operating infrastructure, while also making the service available to any electric vehicle owner willing to pay for access. “Anyone with an electric vehicle who wants to charge there will be there, but they will be charged,” Gutiérrez Ley said, signaling a retail model yet to be finalized.
Jorge Alberto Gutiérrez Topete, general director of IMOS, described the project as a strategic push to accelerate the adoption of electric mobility in the state. He noted the arrival of more hybrid and electric vehicles in the Mexican market as a catalyst and underscored state efforts to both model and expand electric fleet usage. In a related move, IMOS plans to replace 14 of its patrol vehicles with Dolphin Mini electric units, supplementing an existing fleet that includes several hybrid vehicles.
“I believe that if it’s not this year, the first half of next year will be the first, and the difficult thing is to have the first; the second and third become an easier step, and obviously we need the approval of the CFE,” Gutiérrez Topete said, referencing the necessity of securing the national power utility’s sign-off for integration and grid support.
Following the initial installation on Ninth Street, IMOS is already considering expansion. The institute is weighing offering a second site located in Río Nuevo, a property it owns directly across from a power substation. That location, officials say, could serve as a follow-up station to deepen the emerging charging network and provide redundancy.
Despite the optimism surrounding the roll-out, officials acknowledged significant hurdles remain. The project depends in large part on private capital, and much of the necessary equipment is imported, exposing the timeline to global supply chain and pricing volatility. “Obviously, these aren’t easy projects to implement. There’s also the issue of tariffs right now. Most of these products come from Asia. We need all of this to stabilize in order to get these projects off the ground,” Gutiérrez Topete said, pointing to cost uncertainty and import dependencies as factors that could delay broader scale-up.
The strategic placement of the first station reflects a dual aim: service a planned TPM personnel transport route while establishing a visible public access point for electric vehicle users. Officials said they would seek other state-owned properties afterward to replicate the model, suggesting that if the initial deployment succeeds, expansion could follow with greater ease.
Public pricing for charging has not been announced. Officials are still refining the business model, which must balance recovery of investment with making fast charging attractive and competitive for everyday drivers. The timeline hinges on final approvals, integration with the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE), and the ability to secure stable access to imported infrastructure components at predictable costs.
If completed as projected, the Mexicali electrolinera would mark a tangible shift in Baja California’s mobility strategy, offering drivers a fast, renewable option and signaling the state’s intent to position itself for wider electric vehicle integration. Early adopters, including state mobility patrols and electric taxis, will serve both as proof of concept and as foundations for broader electric transport adoption.
An electric vehicle charging station in Baja California is no longer just an idea; it is becoming the infrastructure anchor for a cleaner, faster-moving transportation future in the region.
