When we started planning EchoRoute—the Tesla trip across the world—one segment always ended up on the list: Argentina end to end. Drive south from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia, then come back north on Ruta 40. Not the most efficient route, but the one that matters most. It's the country where I was born and where I came back to.
I calculated bringing the Tesla to Argentina. An importer quoted me USD 52,000 extra in duties. The number didn't work. But the question of how viable this specific trip would be turned out to be more interesting than I expected.
The trip: what we're talking about
Buenos Aires to Ushuaia is roughly 3,300 km in a straight line, but nobody makes that drive in a straight line. Ruta 40, the spine of Argentina, runs north-to-south through the western part of the country and is over 5,000 km end to end. My planned route:
- Buenos Aires → Neuquén (~1,100 km via Ruta 22/7)
- Neuquén → Bariloche (~450 km, northern Patagonia Ruta 40)
- Bariloche → El Calafate (~900 km, central Ruta 40, the hardest stretch)
- El Calafate → Río Gallegos → Ushuaia (~700 km including the Tierra del Fuego ferry crossing)
- Ushuaia → back north on Ruta 40
What works today (July 2026)
Buenos Aires → Neuquén: feasible with planning
The first long leg follows Ruta 7 to Mendoza (~1,050 km) then south to Neuquén. The challenge is the same BA–Mendoza gap: sparse coverage in the desert between San Luis and Mendoza, then limited chargers between Mendoza and Neuquén.
Neuquén → Bariloche: the easiest leg today
Paradoxically, one of the more manageable EV legs is Neuquén–Bariloche via Ruta 237. Neuquén has YPF and private chargers, with points at Zapala and Junín de los Andes along the route. A Tesla LR covers the 450 km with one stop.
Bariloche → El Calafate: the hardest stretch
This is the real problem. The Ruta 40 through central Patagonia crosses some of the most sparsely populated terrain in Argentina. There are 300–400 km stretches between towns, and the towns that exist have minimal or no charging infrastructure.
Today this means extreme planning, relying on private chargers listed on PlugShare, and potentially an overnight stop to charge on 220V for 8–10 hours. Not impossible. Not the first EV trip for anyone.
What changes with YPF + Tesla
In June 2026, YPF and Tesla signed an agreement for three Supercharger corridors in Argentina. The relevant one for this trip: Buenos Aires – Mendoza – Chile, extendable to Ushuaia. In July 2026, Tesla confirmed a technical team is heading to Argentina to assess all three corridors, including the Patagonian extension south.
Realistic timeline for the full trip
| Segment | Today | H2 2026 | 2027-2028 |
|---|---|---|---|
| BA → Córdoba | ✅ Yes | ✅ Easier | ✅ |
| BA → Mendoza | ⚠️ With planning | ✅ Yes | ✅ |
| BA → Neuquén | ⚠️ With planning | ✅ Yes | ✅ |
| Neuquén → Bariloche | ⚠️ Feasible | ✅ Yes | ✅ |
| Bariloche → El Calafate | 🔴 High risk | ⚠️ Improving | ✅ Likely |
| El Calafate → Ushuaia | ⚠️ With planning | ⚠️ Better | ✅ Yes |
The BA–Córdoba–Mendoza trip is plannable this year. BA–Bariloche has good chances for late 2026 or early 2027. The full Buenos Aires–Ushuaia run looks like 2027–2028, depending on how fast the Patagonian deployment moves.
FAQ
Can you drive the full Ruta 40 in an electric car?
Not today without extreme planning and genuine risk tolerance. The hardest segment is Bariloche–El Calafate, with 300–400 km gaps. This changes progressively as the YPF+Tesla corridors deploy through 2026–2027.
How long does Buenos Aires to Ushuaia take in an EV?
In a conventional car it's about 5–6 days of moderate driving. In an EV with current infrastructure, add charging time and plan segments with more margin. With Superchargers on the full corridor, the extra time reduces to 30–40 minute stops every 400–500 km.
Does Tesla have Superchargers in Argentina?
Not as a permanent network yet. YPF and Tesla signed a letter of intent in June 2026 for three initial corridors. Deployment is planned for H2 2026; the Patagonian extension will take longer.
