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/ Wednesday, November 24, 2021
Puerto Rico’s auto industry future set to be electric Automakers are already moving toward that goal
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Juan A. Hernández, The Weekly Journal
y the end of this decade almost half of all cars being manufactured, not only in the United States, but also around the world, will be either hybrid or electric. “All manufacturers, all brands, are already moving toward that goal. This is unstoppable, not only because there are laws in place for that, but because it is the wave of the future,” said Ricardo García, president of the United Group of Auto Importers (GUIA, for its Spanish acronym).
Hybrid and electric cars are going to become more and more cost-efficient as more manufacturers compete for the market. – Ricardo García, president, GUIA
García’s assertion seems as farfetched as President John F. Kennedy’s statement, some 60 years ago, about putting a man on the moon “in this decade.” “We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard…,” said Kennedy in his speech at Rice University in Texas, in 1962. And, while today’s motives spurring the world toward electric-powered vehicles –pollution, global warming, endangerment of the environment – are decidedly different from those of President Kennedy, they are equally pressing, if not more.
Puerto Rico’s Challenges
But in Puerto Rico, that goal seems even more difficult to achieve than anywhere else. According to García, hybrid and electric car sales account for only one percent of all new cars sold
in Puerto Rico. In absolute numbers that means could be offset by the fact that federal and state that, of the 107,992 new cars sold on the island governments offer significant tax incentives to until last October, less than 1,080 were hybrid or buyers. electric. And, while these vehicles have incredibly GUIA’s president explained there are three low running costs and require less upkeep, kinds of environmentally friendly vehicles: 1. The maintenance could be very expensive. For hybrid that recharges its battery while it runs instance, replacing a rechargeable battery on gas; 2. The hybrid that has both a gas and an could cost between $1,000 to more than $6,000 electric engine and needs to be plugged-in to depending on make and model. Last year, a recharge and 3. The fully electric car. Japanese automaker offered “You have to realize that, an eight year / 100,000 milewhile some brands only sell warranty –which ever comes hybrids, supply is not that first – for its hybrid batteries. great here. Plus, supply in Some main concerns among general has been affected by consumers are battery range, the worldwide shortage of the lack of readily available Of the 107,992 new electronic chips,” García cited as charging stations and charging cars sold on the reasons for the low sales. times. These can all be island until last summed-up in the term “range October, less than anxiety,” which translates into: Pricier Cars 1,080 were hybrid or how far can I drive before While García did admit electric. running out of power and hybrids are currently more where I’m I going to charge up? expensive than gas powered For García, as more and more cars, he did not consider price buyers in Puerto Rico opt for to be necessarily a reason to hybrids and EVs, the market will move to provide affect Puerto Rico’s market. But that is precisely solutions to these concerns. one of the cons about going hybrid. “More efficient batteries and speedier car The average hybrid car could be as much as models will be developed, and market share will 20% more expensive than a regular gas-powered keep costs in check,” he said. car, according to car shopping guide website “Hybrid and electric cars are going to www.edmunds.com. The same applies to electric become more and more cost-efficient as more vehicles (EVs). Concerning plug-in hybrid or partmanufacturers compete for the market. We only time electric models, the price could be even need to wait a few years to see how the [new car] higher. But the higher price tag on both hybrids and EVs market will go electric,” García anticipated.
In fact,
