Find out if it’s worth investing in an electric car: benefits, costs and comparisons with traditional vehicles. Find out more now!
Electric cars are a global trend and a more sustainable and economical alternative for transportation. To give you an idea, sales of electric and hybrid cars broke a record in Brazil in August 2023 .
However, many people still have doubts about the viability and benefits of investing in an electric car in Brazil.
In this article, we will explore the main advantages and challenges of owning an electric car, providing detailed information and analysis to help you make an informed decision.
What are the advantages of having an electric car?
Electric cars offer several benefits over combustion-powered cars, both for the environment and for the consumer’s pocket. Here are some of them:
– Reduction in pollutant emissions: electric cars do not emit greenhouse gases, such as CO2, nor other pollutants, such as NOx and particulate matter, which affect air quality and people’s health.
According to a study by the International Council on Clean Transportation , electric cars pollute up to 68% less than combustion cars.
– Fuel economy: many people wonder how much it costs to charge electric cars. They are more efficient and consume less energy than combustion cars.
According to Nakata , in São Paulo, kWh of electricity costs on average R$0.75 under the green flag.
The Caoa-Chery iCar, the cheapest model on sale in Brazil, has a 30.8 kWh battery and a range of 282 km, which is equivalent to a consumption of 9.16 km/kWh. The cost per km driven is therefore R$0.08. This represents a saving of 462.5% compared to gasoline consumption.
Additionally, electric cars can be powered by renewable energy, such as solar or wind, further reducing environmental impact and operating costs.
– Lower maintenance: Electric cars have fewer moving parts and less wear and tear than combustion cars, which means they require less maintenance and repairs.
Furthermore, electric cars have greater durability and useful life, being able to travel up to 500 thousand kilometers without losing performance.
– Reduced IPVA: another frequently asked question is whether electric cars pay IPVA. Electric and hybrid models do not have to pay the tax in the first year, but in subsequent years, the rates are reduced. Fully electric vehicles will pay 0.5% from the second year onwards, a percentage that increases to 1% in the third year.
– Greater comfort and safety: electric cars are quieter and smoother than combustion cars, providing a more comfortable and enjoyable driving experience.
– Improved performance: In addition, electric cars have greater torque and acceleration, which ensures greater agility and safety when overtaking and in emergency situations, and they also have driver assistance and occupant protection systems, such as ABS brakes, stability control, airbags, rear view camera, parking sensor, among others.
What are the challenges of having an electric car?
Despite the advantages, electric cars still face some challenges in Brazil, which may hinder their widespread adoption. Here are some of them:
– Purchase price: electric cars are still more expensive than combustion cars, due to the cost of batteries, electronic components and imports.
However, increased competition, especially with the arrival of BYD in Brazil, has caused prices to fall and there are now prices starting at R$120,000.00 .
– Charging infrastructure: electric cars depend on a network of charging stations to ensure their autonomy and mobility. However, Brazil still has an insufficient and uneven charging infrastructure, concentrated in the South and Southeast regions.
According to a survey conducted by ABVE, Brazil has around 3,200 electric charging stations , while China has more than 5.2 million . Furthermore, the charging time for an electric car varies depending on the type of charger, and can take from 30 minutes to 10 hours, which can limit long-distance travel.
– Extreme Cold: Although it is a problem that can be overcome to some extent, it is no secret that cold weather has a negative impact on the autonomy of electric vehicles. But don’t worry too much, because according to an article published by AFP , the impact of cold weather is not as harmful as many imagine.
– Variety of models: electric cars still have a limited supply of models in Brazil, which does not meet all consumer tastes and needs.
Furthermore, electric cars are still predominantly from premium brands such as Audi , BMW , Volvo and Tesla , which restricts access to a portion of the population. However, this situation should change with the arrival of new models from popular brands such as Renault , Fiat , Volkswagen and Ford .
Keep an eye on the Fipe Table to monitor the prices of hybrid or gasoline electric vehicles.
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