ELETROCAR NOTEBOOK – THE FUTURE OF TRANSPORTATION IS ELECTRIC
This is a unanimous opinion in the sector. The Brazilian Electric Vehicle Association (ABVE) anticipates a significant increase in its members’ participation in the Brazilian economy by 2025. Vehicle sales alone are expected to reach 240,000 units, a 45% growth.
By Joel Leite
It’s natural for new technologies to raise consumer questions, as is happening with electric cars in Brazil. Often, these doubts are fueled by opportunists questioning the technology and stirring controversy to expand their social media audience, by a lack of information, or for less noble reasons.
As with any pioneering innovation, electric cars prompt questions and skepticism. Similar resistance arose with past innovations:
- In 1979, when ethanol-powered cars emerged: “Are we going to use arable land to grow food for cars?”
- In 1993, with the launch of the 1.0-liter compact car: “A fridge motor…”
- In 2003, with the flex-fuel engine: “Flex engines are like ducks: they walk, fly, and swim, but do nothing well.”
After the initial phase, thanks to a wave of early adopters, all these technologies proved viable and crucial for the development of the automotive industry.
The same applies to mobility electrification. However, unlike past cases, this is a technology already tested and approved in major global markets. It is indisputably timely, as the world seeks alternatives to petroleum to reduce — or eliminate — CO2 emissions, the only way to slow polar ice melting and save the planet.
Marcelo Godoy, president at the Association of Vehicle Importers and Manufacturers (ABEIFA), is concerned about the misinformation spreading in the market and believes educating consumers on using this technology is essential.
It is true that electric car owners currently lack a network of charging stations comparable to that available for combustion vehicles. The refueling infrastructure is still insufficient for long-distance travel.
However, some concerns about charging difficulties are unfounded. Consider this: the range of many electric cars is comparable to that of gasoline-powered ones — 400 to 500 kilometers. How often does a combustion car owner visit a gas station to refuel? Once a week, at most. The same applies to electric car owners: driving an average of 20 to 30 km per day (typical for city use), a single weekly charge suffices. Recharging may even be less frequent than critics claim. Electric cars also offer the advantage of home charging, allowing for daily top-ups in the garage.
Apps indicating charging station locations help users plan longer trips, showing station types (fast or ultra-fast chargers), availability, and operational status.
Technology is available, and using electric cars becomes easier daily. What’s missing is information. The sharp rise in electrified car sales this year suggests the market will soon adapt to this new technology.
Leader in the segment, China’s BYD is expected to close the year with more than 70,000 units (and a 42% share of the segment), distributed among its 13 models, all of which offer high technology and competitive prices.
BYD: The electrified leader
Chinese automaker BYD, founded in 1995, quickly became a global leader in electric vehicles and battery manufacturing. It offers comprehensive electric mobility solutions: energy generation, storage, and application. BYD was the first automaker to cease producing fossil-fuel vehicles, focusing on developing electric and plug-in hybrid models.
The company controls key technologies across the entire new energy vehicle industry chain, including batteries, electric motors, electronic controllers, and automotive semiconductors. Globally, BYD leads in electric bus sales, delivering over 70,000 units worldwide. Its Blade Battery has redefined safety standards for new energy and is now a safety benchmark.
BYD began operating in Brazil in 2015 in Campinas (SP), producing electric bus chassis to support municipalities transitioning urban fleets from combustion to clean energy. With lower operating costs, ranges of 250–300 km, and recharges taking 3–4 hours, these vehicles have gained market traction.
The company also began producing photovoltaic solar panels, state-of-the-art, high-tech photovoltaic modules and lithium iron phosphate batteries, which are safer. Before deciding to produce passenger cars, when it purchased the old Ford factory in Camaçari, Bahia, the company already had two manufacturing units in Brazil: Campinas, which produces bus chassis and solar panels, and Manaus (AM), which produces batteries.
The technology surge
In 2020, BYD began importing cars, starting with the TAN EV SUV. Since then, the automaker has maintained a rapid pace of new releases, leading Brazilian manufacturers to request an early application of a 35% import tariff. This request was denied, but local industry remains wary of what it calls the “Chinese invasion,” led by BYD alongside brands like GWM, Chery, JAC, Geely, and Neta.
In April 2022, BYD launched the HAN EV sports sedan in Brazil, offering innovative technology and safety features. The automaker introduced a key differentiator: infrastructure for energy generation through solar panels. These panels not only power the vehicle but also provide electricity for the household, reducing dependency on local energy distributors. Additionally, with the launch of the Dolphin Mini, consumers gained access to a portable charger.
Last year, BYD initiated construction on its Camaçari Industrial Complex in Bahia, the first car manufacturing plant outside Asia.
BYD Family
BYD offers one of the most comprehensive product lines among brands in Brazil, both domestic and imported. The lineup includes 13 models: compact cars, SUVs, sedans, pickups, hybrids, plug-ins, and fully electric vehicles.
Tan EV: Seven-seater electric SUV, 108.8 kWh, range 430–530 km.
Han EV: Fully electric sedan, 494 hp, AWD, range 500 km.
Dolphin: Compact hatchback, 95 hp, range 291 km.
Dolphin Mini: Entry-level electric, Brazil’s best-seller, range 280 km.
Dolphin Plus: 60.48 kWh battery, range 427 km.
Yuan Plus: Compact electric SUV, 201 hp, range 294 km.
King: Hybrid sedan, 1.5L gasoline engine plus electric, 235 hp combined.
Pickup Shark: Plug-in hybrid, turbo gasoline engine (183 hp) and dual electric motors (435 hp combined).
Seal: Electric sports coupe, 531 hp, range 372 km.
Yuan Pro: Electric SUV, 177 hp, range 250 km.
Song Pro: Plug-in hybrid SUV, 223 hp combined.
Song Plus: Plug-in hybrid SUV, 235 hp combined.
Song Plus Premium: Plug-in hybrid SUV, range up to 950 km, 350 hp combined.
Electrification reaches heavy vehicles
The main argument of those who argue against the implementation of electric mobility is the difficulty of charging the batteries, due to the infrastructure of electric charging stations, which would not meet the needs of long-distance journeys, which would leave road transport out of the picture.
However, what we saw this year was a major investment by commercial vehicle companies in electrification, including in the heavy-duty segment. Volvo, DAF, Volkswagen, Iveco, Mercedes-Benz, Scania, Ford and the Chinese company XCMG are bringing to Brazil, for testing or even for immediate sale, options for sustainable mobility, with electricity being the most plausible alternative. Industry executives are unanimous in stating: “the future of transportation is electric.”
Volkswagen has had an electric line manufactured in Brazil since 2021, and Iveco is enjoying the success of e-Daily, the preferred option for urban freight transport companies that have opted to use electric mobility.
Mercedes-Benz brought two trucks to assess the conditions for use on Brazilian roads: the e-Actros, which is already on the road in Europe, and the Canter, an urban truck with an eight-ton capacity. The 30G truck, another heavy-duty truck, is already available for sale and is Scania’s option. The 30G is a pure electric truck designed for regional applications, for medium distances.
The Chinese company XCMG (which has been operating in Brazil for 20 years with heavy machinery) is replacing traditional diesel powered machines with electric technology. The dealership network sells electric trucks weighing from 10 to 80 tons: the E3-10T (R$450 thousand), the E7-18T (R$1.2 million) and the E7-80T (R$1.5 million).
And DAF offers consumers the CF, a pure electric heavy truck with 480 hp of power and 500 km of autonomy, and is testing an electric driveline, which equips a truck in Europe, with power of 350 kW, autonomy of up to 500 km and 525 kWh batteries. It is a heavy truck, with a capacity of 50 tons.
A bright growth outlook
As can be seen, the world of electrification is not limited to passenger cars; on the contrary, other categories, other modes and the entire industry chain are rapidly expanding.
Ricardo Bastos, president of the Brazilian Electric Vehicle Association (ABVE), expects a significant increase in the participation of its members in the Brazilian economy in 2025. Vehicle sales alone are expected to reach 240 thousand units, with growth of 45%.
“The market should remain strong, not only for electric vehicles, but for the entire industry, which is very good for Brazil,” says the executive, noting that starting next year the country will have the production of a plug-in model, in addition to the arrival of new companies and new technologies.
The executive also points out that 2025 will be the year of infrastructure. “Another point that should also receive special attention next year is the market for charging points,” he said. According to him, infrastructure should keep pace with sales growth, generating a lot of business.
“Many companies that are currently installing chargers are already using fast chargers. The expectation is that infrastructure will grow to meet the increase in vehicle sales,” says the president of ABVE, highlighting that new companies are starting operations in Brazil, expanding opportunities in electric mobility for consumers.
NETA STARTS SELLING THE AYA AND THE X
Neta is the newest passenger car brand to introduce its models on the Brazilian market. Later this year, the AYA and X models, both pure electric, will go on sale and can already be purchased in pre-sale. The company has set up points of sale in shopping malls in the states of São Paulo, Rio Grande do Sul, Paraíba, Ceará and Espírito Santo.
The Neta AYA is an SUV with a 70 kW (95 hp) electric motor, with a range of 338 km (WLTP) or 263 km according to Inmetro. It comes in the Comfort (R$ 128,900.00) and Luxury (R$ 134,900.00) versions.
The Neta X is also a larger, mid-size SUV, with frontwheel drive and a maximum power of 163 hp (120 kW). It has two battery options: the first is equipped with the 400 version, with a capacity of 52.49 kW/h, allowing it to travel 323 km (WLTP). The second (500 and 500 Luxury versions) has a capacity of 64.14 kW/h, increasing the vehicle’s range to 410 km (WLTP) or 317 km (PBEV). It costs from R$194,900.00 to R$214,900.00.
Source: Eletrolar News Magazine ed. 164
