During the conference, Zorrilla gave an overview of the history of the automobile, from its beginnings to the present day, noting that the first cars were electric: “The first vehicle was invented by the Scotsman Robert Anderson and was purely electric,” the speaker remarked.
However, several factors led to a shift toward internal combustion vehicles, including: price, mass production, improvements in speed, oil extraction, and the availability of gasoline. By the late 1920s, the electric automobile industry had disappeared entirely.
"In 1990, the shift back to electric cars began tentatively due to the air pollution crisis, and then 'the European Union, China, and the United States imposed CO2 emission limits on all manufacturers,'" he said.
“There are other factors that also played a role, such as improvements in battery technology, falling prices, and, above all, technological advancements,” he said.
There are currently more than one million electric cars worldwide. China is the largest producer; in 2017, it manufactured 475,000 cars, while Norway has the largest fleet.
These vehicles offer many advantages over gasoline-powered ones, including:
- reduced dependence on oil
- better use of renewable energy resources
- reduction of air and noise pollution
- savings on the cost of refills
- lower maintenance costs
- ease of use
However, there are still some challenges to overcome, such as the high purchase price, limited range, and insufficient charging infrastructure.
Another important point is battery pollution, although Zorrilla emphasized that "they last longer than the car itself."
The situation in Uruguay
“Our country has set a global example in the transformation of its energy mix, going from a net importer to a net exporter in just a few years. Now we aim to replicate that success in the transition to electric vehicles,” said Zorrilla. Currently, there are 150 electric cars in Uruguay; 63 belong to the UTE fleet, and 20 are taxis.
As Zorrilla stated at the conference, the government’s first steps to promote this initiative include reducing the IMESI tax and exempting electric passenger vehicles from the general import tariff.
“UTE’s goal for this year is to build an electric vehicle charging network that will connect the entire coastline of the country, from Colonia to Chuy. The plan is then to cover all national highways with a charging station every 60 kilometers,” said Zorrilla.
https://youtu.be/9CHaiC3Rm7A?si=fjktsVRLA6f4-3JW
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