Last year, around 50,000 units of light electrified vehicles were licensed in Brazil, according to data released by the Brazilian Association of Electric Vehicles (ABVE). With a current fleet of more than 126,000 vehicles, the sector recently reached a record: with 4,503 units sold, the beginning of 2023 had the best January in the historical series of ABVE since 2012, showing a growth of 76% compared to January 2022 (2,558 vehicles). This margin jumps to 241% growth compared to 2021 (1,321).
Another study shows that electric cars will represent 14% of Brazil’s energy demand in 2040 and this fleet should exceed 35 million vehicles. According to projections on vehicle electrification carried out by Strategy&, PwC Brasil’s strategic consultancy, there will be strong reductions in the consumption of fossil fuels.
By 2030, 8 billion liters of gasoline (12% of current demand) and 6 billion less of diesel (10% of current demand) should be consumed. In 2040, the reduction in diesel consumption could reach 41 billion liters (66% of current demand) and 37 billion liters of gasoline (59% of current demand). “Vehicular electrification and its impacts, mainly, thinking about the future is one of the main points of discussion for this agenda. After all, there is a firm concern in the transport industry when it comes to the aspect of sustainability and energy transition to low carbon operation”, comments Strategy& partner, Daniel Martins.
As the whole world is looking at sustainable solutions in the use of clean energy, the market is promising, but there are some myths and misinformation that need to be overcome. Some people, for example, think that the electricity that supplies electric cars is produced from fossil energies, such as coal, for example. “The electricity produced and consumed by electric cars comes from a renewable, non-polluting source”, comments Minas Gerais businessman Gabriel Guimarães, commercial director of Voolta, a company in the electric vehicle charging sector of the SolarVolt group.
He points out that another unfounded complaint is about the delay in loading. “The charging time of an electric vehicle depends on the energy storage capacity of the battery installed in the vehicle and the power of the charger. There are hybrid car batteries that are fully recharged in 1 to 4 hours and pure electric vehicles that take 4 to 8 hours”, he exemplifies.
There is also the myth that electric car batteries are “addictive”, as with cell phones. In this case, the entrepreneur emphasizes that electric vehicles have a battery management system that prevents such wear and tear. There are also people who say they are afraid that, when passing through flooded roads, the car may break down. “The battery of electric cars is armored and waterproof. In fact, electric cars are safer than combustion cars to pass through flooded areas, since there is no way for water to enter the engine”, he compares.
Another recurring myth says that you cannot charge an electric car during periods of rain, otherwise you will be electrocuted. According to Gabriel Guimarães, the vehicles are already equipped as standard with a technology that allows charging in any adverse weather situation, avoiding current leakage and, consequently, any risk of shock. In addition, highlights the businessman, the chargers and their respective connectors are manufactured with resistant materials, with a high level of protection against water jets, dust and UV rays. They also have safety devices that allow electrical protection and detect any sign of short circuit, overcurrent, voltage surges, overvoltage, undervoltage, insulation failure and detection of lack of grounding.
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