Stopping at a gas station and picking up the diesel hose will increasingly become a thing of the past. Not only is this the path indicated by national and European institutions, which have declared the partial “death” of internal combustion engines by 2035, but this also seems to be the will of consumers – and the numbers prove it. Between January and June this year, data collected and released by the Automobile Association of Portugal (ACAP) shows that 100% electric light passenger cars have been sold more than diesel models.
“For three or four years now, there has been a strong growth in sales of electric vehicles and an equally strong decline in diesel vehicles,” emphasizes Henrique Sánchez. The president of the Association of Electric Vehicle Users (UVE) recalls that the transformation took place at the beginning of the year, in February, when sales of battery passenger cars (BEV) surpassed new registrations of diesel cars for the first time.
According to information from ACAP for the first half of 2023, the market share of 100% electric vehicles was 15.5% and diesel 13% at the end of June. “At this moment of decarbonization, there is a disruption in what has been the paradigm for years,” admits Hélder Pedro, ACAP general secretary.
Also on petrol
However, the data shows an even “greener” scenario, as petrol-only passenger cars (40.6%) were also outperformed by electrified alternatives, totaling 46.4% of total sales in the national market. The trend will continue, thinks Henrique Sánchez, who states that “this difference [entre combustão e eletrificados] will increase from now on” for several reasons. From the outset, he emphasizes, due to the pressure of restrictions imposed on internal combustion engines, to which is added a growing range of electric and hybrid models plug in that respond to some of the concerns of consumers: autonomy and cost. “The supply has increased considerably and the price drop is a fact, with the examples of Tesla and the arrival of Chinese brands,” the UVE front runner analyzes.
Good job on the goods
Despite ACAP figures released last Monday pointing to a positive evolution in light passenger cars, electrification for light trucks still has a long way to go. Between January and June this year, 91.5% of sales correspond to combustion engine vehicles and only 8.4% to electric vehicles. But this, according to ACAP and UVE, is a scenario in transformation. “There are already several offers on the market for light trucks with autonomy between 300 and 350 real kilometers, which allows distribution activities in major cities,” says Henrique Sánchez.
For the phase of last milegreen options are becoming more attractive for distribution companies to save fuel costs, but also to meet sustainability goals that are increasingly part of their annual reports and accounts.
Fossil fuels continue to be preferred for heavy goods, but this does not apply to passenger transport.
The example of Evora
For example, the municipality of Évora revolutionized collective mobility with the purchase of 23 100% electric buses that have guaranteed the total replacement of diesel vehicles since the beginning of July. A total of EUR 6.7 million was invested, of which EUR 4.2 million was secured by community funds.
“Évora is an example for the whole country. It is a very important message for people, for other municipalities and for concessionaires of this type of transport”, emphasizes the president of UVE. With the backing of European funding, he adds, it is now possible to cover “up to 60% of the value of any electric bus”, meaning the cost to companies is “the same” as any other diesel bus.
The government should keep the incentives
After the executive declared its intention to change the incentives for the purchase of electric vehicles, through the Environmental Fund, UVE confirmed to Dinheiro Vivo that it will submit a change proposal to the government. One of the options put forward by the union is to lower the support limit, which currently applies to the purchase of cars up to 62,500 euros, to 45 or 50 thousand euros. On the other hand, the UVE points to an increase of the individual incentive from the current 4,000 euros to “a value of almost 6,000, which is the average incentive in the European Union”, along with a larger financial allocation for annual support. – in 2023 5.2 million euros for 100% electric passenger cars. “We think it’s important to keep the stimulus,” ACAP agrees.
Source: DN
