Entering the world of electric cars in Brazil requires a bit more organization than in mature markets. The infrastructure exists and is growing fast, but it is still uneven and full of particularities.
The most common beginner mistakes are not about fear of running out of battery, but about rushed decisions that make daily use more expensive. It is possible to drive comfortably and save money, as long as you avoid a few basic pitfalls.
Pitfall 1: relying only on public chargers
For those coming from combustion cars, the logic seems simple: "I refuel outside the house." With electric cars, this usually turns out to be expensive.
Public chargers in Brazil still have varied pricing, billing per minute or per kWh, and in many cases higher rates during peak hours. Using this type of charging as the basis of daily use wipes out much of the savings promised by electric vehicles.
How to avoid it without complication
- Prioritize home charging, even if it is just a regular outlet at first. - Use public chargers as a complement, not a routine. - Save fast charging for trips or emergencies.
In practice, those who charge at home at night usually pay less per kilometer driven than those who rely on public charging — even without a wallbox.
Pitfall 2: not understanding charger types and paying more for urgency
Many beginners use any available charging point without looking at power, connector type, or billing method. The result can be poorly used time and money thrown away.
Fast chargers always seem like the best option, but they do not always make economic sense — especially if the car will be parked for hours.
How to avoid it without becoming an expert
- For long stops (shopping malls, work, hotels), prefer slow or semi-fast chargers. - Use fast charging only when time is truly critical. - Check if billing is by time: in these cases, charging beyond 80% usually gets expensive.
Constant urgency when charging is the enemy of savings.
Pitfall 3: installing home infrastructure without calculating real usage
Another common mistake is investing too early in a wallbox, service upgrades, or expensive adaptations without understanding one’s own usage pattern.
In many cases, a conventional outlet already works well in the first months. The upfront expense may take years to pay off — or never be justified.
How to avoid unnecessary investment
- Drive for a few weeks using only a regular outlet, if possible. - Observe how many kilometers you replenish per night and whether that covers your routine. - Only consider a wallbox when charging is clearly limiting your daily life.
Organization is worth more than installed power.
Savings come more from habits than from equipment
In the Brazilian context, those who truly save money with electric cars are the ones who understand where, when, and how to charge. It is not about having access to the fastest charger, but to the one most aligned with your routine.
Planning routes, knowing the charging points near home, and avoiding impulsive decisions make a bigger difference to the wallet than any new technology. With electric cars, infrastructure is not just a network of chargers — it is strategy.
Comments
Comments are public and the sole responsibility of the author. Don’t share personal data. We may store technical signals (e.g. IP hash) to reduce spam and remove abusive, illegal, or off-topic content.