You forget to go to the pumps! Those cars don’t even sit, they don’t make noise, they charge at home like mobile phones, but they stay thrown and where you charge or your cars are toys, they have no power! There are some myths and truths surrounding electric cars that in Ecuador – especially from 2022 – are growing in sales and conquering the market.

In the first three months, 175% more were already sold than in the same period last year, according to the Association of Automobile Companies of Ecuador (Aeade). There are also comments about hybrids in various varieties that also show significant growth, some up to close to 400%.

What is the myth and what is the truth about these vehicles? Those who have bought them are rolling with them and the manufacturers are clarifying their doubts.

With more than 35,000 units, first-quarter vehicle sales revved up and exceeded pre-pandemic numbers by 14%

Felipe Morán is a taxi driver and he bought an electric vehicle from the Chinese brand BYD two weeks ago. So far he feels that the main advantages this car has given him are the freedom from maintenance and the savings compared to an internal combustion car.

“You don’t have to check their oil, they don’t have tapes, no ignition, no alternator, no gearbox, it’s not like a classic car that needs regular maintenance, but not anymore in this car.” He tells his experience while waiting for passengers in front of the Mall del Sol, in the north of Guayaquil.

Morán is also happy with the savings his new 100% electric car has made so far. Remember that with an internal combustion vehicle you had to spend more than $700 a month to refuel, but with your new car, $7 a day (an average of $210 a month) of electric charging is enough, at home or at an electric station, to run the whole day and ensures that it still has 40% battery left.

The price of the car he bought in cash is $36,400; However, he assures that the economy provided by the car justifies the high price, which is almost double that of an internal combustion vehicle with similar characteristics. “If I analyze it with an internal combustion engine, this car has much more economy and it is like a high class car, it comes with eight airbags”, the taxi driver stands out.

Another rumor revolves around the quality of the batteries in these vehicles. Morán is calm and dismisses this alleged negative point by assuring that the vehicle distributor told him that the battery life, with the taxi crowd, is 15 years, but the warranty of each battery cell is 6 years. He also answers the question that many have asked him: What happens if there’s a flood, you get electrocuted because you’re an electric car?

– “No. So far, nothing has happened, and on Tik Tok, cars like this appear in the rain, which look like boats,” he says between laughs.

José Antonio Errazuriz, commercial director of KIA Motors del Ecuador, a brand that has K5, Stonic, Óptima, Niro hybrids in its catalog in the country; and the 100% electric Soul EV, EV6; answer this question as well.

– “There is no risk of electric shock because the entire electrical system is hermetically sealed, which provides absolute safety for the passengers in the vehicle and prevents energy leakage” – explains the director of KIA, which sold 2,552 electrified vehicles in 2022, between electric and hybrid , and in the first quarter of this year they sold 301 units.

87.5% more sales in the first quarter of 2023 supports diversification and preferences among ‘electrified’ vehicles in the local market

Errazuriz also indicates that the electricity consumption of electric vehicles depends on the capacity of the battery (on average it is 77.4 kWh), which in a gasoline vehicle would represent the capacity of the gas tank (on average 11 gallons); but in conclusion, he confirms that the average saving of charging an electric car is 83% of the value of charging an internal combustion car.

Rafael Andrade, who has been driving a KIA Stonic, a semi-hybrid or mild hybrid vehicle since September 2021, has felt this saving in his pocket. (mild hybrid) which cost him approximately $23,000. He explains that his vehicle does consume fuel, but in addition to the battery in the trunk, it also has an electric one that lasts at least 10 years. Mild hybrids are supported by an electrical system up to 48 V, without being the conventional hybrids we know.

“You can feel the savings, that basket is filled with 22 to 23 dollars and lasts 10 to 12 days, that is, it costs between 65 and 70 dollars per month. “I used to drive my brother’s KIA Río, every week I had to fill up with gas and $25 was gone, that is, I spent $100 a month,” Andrade recalls.

Let’s add that the volume is 990 cc. Everyone would think that the power is low, but not because the car hums, starts well, normally goes uphill, even with 5 people, points out the owner of KIA Stonica, who assumes that this power is another advantage of the electric part of his car. vehicle.

Rafael Andrade bought his KIA Stonic, a mild hybrid vehicle, in September 2021. He assures that this represents a saving of 25% of what he used to spend on fuel in a normal gasoline-burning car. Photo: Courtesy of Rafael Andrade

Morán and Andrade have no negative comments about their vehicles so far. However, the commercial director of KIA Motors del Ecuador believes that electric car owners still find it difficult to get used to charging their vehicles.

“There is still a fear of power outages when driving an electric vehicle, for this reason at KIA we are working to increase the network of chargers for electric vehicles,” says Errazuriz who assures that they have more than 45 fast chargers installed in dealerships, shopping centers, clubs, public parking lots, parks, etc., throughout the country, and they cooperate with private companies to implement electric stations in their gas stations.

The Chinese company BYD is bringing three new electric models to Ecuador

Meanwhile, other brands are announcing their official arrival on the domestic market, also with electric models. This is the case of BYD, which will present its brand and three 100% electric models this Wednesday, May 3.

The new models are: BYD Dolphin EV, a hatchback of 405 km of autonomy; BYD Yuan Plus, an SUV with a range of 500 km and BYD Han EV AWD, a high-tech luxury sedan with a range of 600 km.

The Chinese brand arrives in Ecuador in collaboration with the local company Andor Corporation, a corporate group that manages companies in more than eight industry sectors.

Andor Corporation has announced the launch of the BYD Island Electric Vehicle Show in three shopping centers: Quicentro Shopping, Paseo San Francisco and Mall del Sol, as the start of its strategic marketing plan, the growth vision includes reaching six sales points between Quito, Guayaquil and Manta in the next six months and expand to twelve sales points in 2024 (I)