Between the elite in Belgrano R and the truckers and Amarok maniacs there are a couple of million people in the GBA commuter belt, maybe an hour or so from CABA, that are being overlooked here.
Argentina has only around 330 or so cars per 1000 people.
So for every type of auto, we are talking close to 70% of the population being overlooked, as non-customers.
Thats why its so great there is a good public transportation system in the metro area, and why its so sad that Menem killed the national railway network, not to mention that Milei wants to privatize the national highway system, which would mean much higher tolls, and even less abilty for that 70% to get anywhere.
But the proven model for electric cars, just like solar panels, is consumers vote with their wallets.
and when the price differential for a new small SUV, which is a very popular type of auto here, is so large and obvious- $30,000 usd starting price for the small BYD Suv, vs $40,000 for the equivalent Ford, and more or less $50,000 for the Toyota- well, people who buy cars (a small subset of the population) will continue shifting to electric cars IF they live in a place where they can charge at home.
Globally, that is seeming like its 20% to 40% of the market in countries like Argentina. Obviously not right away. In countries where the government encourages electric cars, like China or Norway (in very different ways) we are seeing more like 80% cars and small suvs sold new are EVs.
I would say the majority of my Argentine friends dont own cars. They walk, bike, and take public transportation.
The ones who do, in CABA, would mostly be just fine with an EV, as with current gas prices, they drive only when necessary.
My feelilng is that its essential for Argentina to continue to support and subsidize public transit, both in CABA, and in the greater nation, which means going back to more trains.
But in the private capitalistic marketplace, no amount of naysaying is going to stop maybe a third of the buyers, in 5 to 10 years, from buying EVS, especially as they continue to get better, and are better values for the money.
Earlier in the year, I rode in a bunch of EVs used as Ubers in Montevideo, and they are really comfortable, nice cars. and in BA, we are seeing more and more EV ubers as well. They are, for less money, much more luxurious feeling than a new Fiat or Renault.
There will always be people who cannot use an EV for their particular situation, and/or can afford anything they want- my late neighbor, for example, had an Alfa Romeo Spyder garaged across the street, and my handyman has a big diesel toyota pickup so he can haul durock and framing materials.
But Argentina has long ago accepted the idea of practical cars, and the vast majority of friends of mine with cars own small hatchbacks, which are red meat for chinese EV makers- they can sell an urban dweller a small hatchback for 2/3 the price of Fiat or Renault, much less Honda or Toyota, with much less fuel costs.
