2025 Comparison Shows How Many Kilometers The Electric Car Starts To Pay Off In Brazil And When The Total Cost Becomes Lower Than That Of A Combustion Model

Written by Noel Budeguer

Published on 16/12/2025 at 10:53

A conta que interessa em 2025 não é só preço de vitrine: o retorno do elétrico chega por volta de 113.600 km, quando a economia acumulada supera a diferença inicial

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Updated Comparison Shows When Electric Savings Outweigh Price Difference in Practice for Daily Drivers

The advancement of electric cars in Brazil in 2025 raised a direct question for those considering switching from combustion models: how many kilometers need to be driven for the investment to pay off? With updated prices and corrected costs, the answer becomes objective.

When comparing a BYD Dolphin Mini, sold for R$ 118.990, and a VW Polo Track 1.0, priced at R$ 89.429, the initial difference reaches R$ 29.561. This amount is only recovered over time through savings on fuel, maintenance, and taxes.

When these factors are included in the calculation, amortization occurs after approximately 113,600 km driven, at which point the total cost of the electric car becomes lower than that of the combustion model.

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW

What Happened and Why It Caught Attention

100% Electric Vehicles, known as BEV, have seen growth since the end of 2023, driven by new compact models and more competitive prices. This has closed the gap with traditional cars and changed the profile of interested consumers.

Instead of just discussing range or technology, the focus has shifted to total cost of ownership. Those who drive less want to know if the return really exists. Those who drive more want to see when savings become evident.

With higher fuel prices and simplified maintenance, the electric car has gained prominence in long-term calculations.

With a price of **R$ 118.990**, average consumption of **9.6 kWh per 100 km**, and estimated maintenance cost of **R$ 0.029 per km**, the electric car offers the greatest savings in daily use

What Goes into the Amortization Calculation

The amortization calculation does not depend on daily use, but on the savings per kilometer driven and the initial price difference between vehicles. As long as these factors remain constant, the total kilometers needed to offset the investment also remains the same.

In comparison, the VW Polo has an average consumption of 13.4 km per liter, while the BYD Dolphin Mini consumes 9.6 kWh per 100 km, equivalent to 0.096 kWh per kilometer.

Maintenance is less of a burden for the electric car, with an estimated cost of R$ 0.029 per km, compared to R$ 0.076 per km for the Polo. Additional costs include 4% IPVA, licensing fee of R$ 160.22, and annual depreciation of 4.95% for the Dolphin and 6% for the Polo.

Why 113,600 km Does Not Change with Usage Type

The number 113,600 km represents the point at which the accumulated savings of the electric vehicle equal and surpass the difference paid at purchase. This figure is fixed because it only reflects how much is saved for each kilometer driven.

What changes is the time required to reach this figure. Those who drive less will take more years. Those who drive more will reach the same point in less time.

This detail helps explain why the electric car tends to be more advantageous for drivers who use the vehicle frequently, even without professional use.

Sold for **R$ 89.429**, the Track version has an average consumption of **13.4 km per liter** and maintenance cost of **R$ 0.076 per km**, factors that impact the total cost over time

How Daily Use Influences Payback Time

With light usage of 35 km per day, the driver covers about 12,775 km per year. At this rate, 113,600 km would be reached in just under 9 years.

With moderate use of 120 km daily, annual mileage increases to 43,800 km, reducing payback time to about 2.5 years.

In intense usage, such as 200 km per day, common in app-based transport, the 113,600 km mark can be reached in approximately 1.5 years.

What Can Happen from Now On

The trend is for the calculation to become even more favorable to electric vehicles with improvements in infrastructure and an increase in supply. The more stable the energy costs and the lower the maintenance, the more predictable the return becomes.

For consumers, the central takeaway is clear: amortization does not depend on promises, but on mileage. Once reaching around 113,600 km, the BYD Dolphin Mini starts to cost less over time compared to the VW Polo, even starting from a higher initial price.

This number serves as a practical reference for those evaluating a switch and wanting to decide based on actual usage, not just on market trends.

11 Comments

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Maximiliano

#213497

23/12/2025 00:41

Pelo amor de Deus, vamos aprender a fazer contas.
Gasolina a R$ 6,50l ÷ 13km/l = R$ 0,50km + 0,07 manutenção + 0,10 de IPVA = R$ 0,67/km
Elétrico R$ 0,80kwh = R$ 0,08/km + 0,02 manutenção + IPVA isento = R$ 0,10/km.
Gasolina R$ 0,67
Elétrico. R$ 0,10
Diferença R$ 0,57/km
R$ 29.561 ÷ R$ 0,57/km = 51.860km

Respond

Heitor

#211047

18/12/2025 12:02

Matéria tendenciosa e sem escrúpulos. Pegaram a pior versão do polo e bem básica para fazer o comparativo. Elétrico não tem mão de obra qualificada nem nas concessionárias, pneus um absurdo,sem peça de reposição no mercado ( há quem diga que não quebra). Carro descartável, optem por um Corolla híbrido ( carro de aposentado, mas sobrevive com boas avaliações).

-6

Respond

Hendrewf

#211073

Reply to Heitor

18/12/2025 12:55

Falou de pneus essa pegou mal em meu SENHOR, esse mito de pneus ja caiu por terra a anos atras F5 aí para sair da idade do balaço baco

-1

Respond

Andre

#211539

Reply to Heitor

19/12/2025 12:06

É assim mesmo, fala mal quem não tem, kkkkkkk

O desespero das montadoras “tradicionais” é tão grande que falaram mal e agora estão todos lançando carros híbridos, mesmo porque nem têm tecnologia para lançar totalmente elétricos, estão 10 anos atrasados.

Tenho um Song Plus, carro incrível de tudo! Quase 2 toneladas fazendo 100Km/h em 8seg, ando 4.000km por mês com 2,5 tanques de combustível porque carrego em casa num custo baixíssimo.

O povo nem entendeu ainda as diferenças entre os diversos tipos de eletrificação e tem um monte de gente falando do que não conhece.

Mas é isso… opinião, cada um com a sua!

Respond

Sergio

#211045

18/12/2025 11:57

Manutenção do polo não é tão barata e quem bebe é ele. Fizeram a comparação com o motor do track, poderia ter feito com outro.

Respond

Joab

#213653

Reply to Sergio

23/12/2025 10:06

Polo fazendo 13.5 kml kkkkk não sei onde andaram , pois aqui em Goiânia é impossível.

Respond

2025 Comparison Shows How Many Kilometers The Electric Car Starts To Pay Off In Brazil And When The Total Cost Becomes Lower Than That Of A Combustion Model

Updated Comparison Shows When Electric Savings Outweigh Price Difference in Practice for Daily Drivers

What Happened and Why It Caught Attention

What Goes into the Amortization Calculation

Why 113,600 km Does Not Change with Usage Type

How Daily Use Influences Payback Time

What Can Happen from Now On

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2025 Comparison Shows How Many Kilometers The Electric Car Starts To Pay Off In Brazil And When The Total Cost Becomes Lower Than That Of A Combustion Model

Updated Comparison Shows When Electric Savings Outweigh Price Difference in Practice for Daily Drivers

What Happened and Why It Caught Attention

What Goes into the Amortization Calculation

Why 113,600 km Does Not Change with Usage Type

How Daily Use Influences Payback Time

What Can Happen from Now On

Engineers want to carve through Africa with a giant canal to bring water from the world’s second-largest river to a dying lake on the edge of the Sahara Desert that has already lost 90% of its water.

A giant brown band visible from space, approximately 8,850 kilometers long, connected Africa to America in the Atlantic Ocean, and satellites revealed that it is neither land nor pollution, but the largest accumulation of seaweed in the world, which broke records in 2025.

Instead of burning or burying old tires, an American city is transforming about 2,000 of them into the street itself, paving its first sections with a quieter and more durable rubber asphalt.

In just one cast, fishermen are surprised to capture 14,096 mullets in Bombinhas and close a historic season with 58,000 fish; scene recorded in the Santa Catarina paradise marks the last day of the 2026 season.

Consumers eat six times more chicken than in the 1960s, global meat supply quadruples in 60 years, and FAO report reveals the invisible cost on the plate: livestock could drive 80% of the increase in agricultural emissions over the next decade.

Greek island offers free housing for volunteers, but there’s a condition: you need to take care of rescued cats.

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