Opinion – Eduardo Sodré: More expensive fuel stimulates dispute for cheaper electric car station

After interrupting production at its plant in Jacareí (São Paulo countryside) and confirming the assembly of hybrid vehicles in Anápolis (GO), Caoa Chery takes advantage of the alternatives available in China and enters the 100% electric car segment with the iCar.

Its launch took place this Monday (13). Four days later, Petrobras announced a readjustment of 5.18% in the price of gasoline and of 14.26% in the price of diesel.

It is the dispute of the moment in the automotive market: while fuels get more expensive, which automaker will be able to offer the 100% electric vehicle at a more affordable price?

The tiny iCar occupies the position at the moment, with a suggested value of R$ 140 thousand. It is a vehicle designed for urban use and comes with the main amenities: air conditioning, electrically assisted steering and automatic transmission. According to the brand, there is room for four occupants.

The power is approximately 60 hp, with an estimated top speed of 100 km/h.

Its direct competitors are the Renault Kwid E-Tech (R$147,000) and the JAC E-JS1 (R$159,900), both produced in China. In common, the brands highlight the reduction of supply expenses.

“The line vehicles [elétrica] enable a very low cost per km driven, up to six times lower than the similar model with a combustion engine, depending on the electricity tariff in your city”, says the text displayed prominently on the JAC Motors website.

“We saw strong demand from the individual customer in the pre-sale of the Kwid E-Tech, attracted by the autonomy of 298 km, the ease of charging and also the cost per km traveled, eight times more economical than an equivalent thermal vehicle”, he says. , in a note, Bruno Hohmann, commercial vice president of Renault do Brasil.

In the iCar promotional material, Caoa Chery highlights Brazil’s potential to receive electric cars. “World reference in clean and renewable energy, with hydro, wind, solar and biomass sources, the country has the ideal scenario for the development of new, more sustainable and economical forms of mobility.”

That is, the appeal to the pocket is present in all communications of brands that sell electric vehicles. Rising fuel prices encourage this strategy, but there’s no escaping it: for what they offer in space and versatility, these rechargeable subcompacts from outlets are still expensive.