My first time with EV

In December 2022, while visiting Miami, I had the immense pleasure of riding in a Tesla. It is truly an impressive experience—not just because of the design and technology, but because it forces you to reflect on how rapidly the world is moving toward a new consumer model, specifically within the automotive sector.

I used to have reservations about hybrid vehicles because the initial investment didn't seem to pay off; any savings on fuel were ultimately swallowed up by the replacement battery you had to buy five years later. At least, that was the case with the first generation. Today, those models are evolving into plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) and 100% electric vehicles. Interestingly, my 'third-world mentality'—focused solely on immediate financial savings—never factored in  emissions. But reducing emissions is where the real savings for nature happen! This is precisely what separates a conventional hybrid from a plug-in hybrid. While conventional hybrids self-charge, they cannot drive long distances on electric power alone; they constantly rely on a mix of electricity and combustion, meaning they still emit gases. On the other hand, because a PHEV can be charged at home or at public stations, it keeps  emissions to a minimum, sometimes even reaching zero. And naturally, a 100% electric vehicle is entirely eco-friendly. Experiencing this 'electric' reality firsthand completely won me over. In fact, I would love to own a Tesla! Of course, it will take several years for that reality to reach Latin America. It's not a matter of Tesla vehicles being unavailable, but rather the lack of a robust charging infrastructure required to transform the automotive market—not to mention the steep price tag that keeps these cars out of reach for the vast majority of the population.

So, why this long introduction? Well, with developed governments pushing to phase out combustion engines in favor of electric vehicles by 2035, it made me wonder: what will happen to 'poor,' oil-dependent countries like Ecuador?"