In Brazil, an impressive 92% of all newly sold cars run on ethanol, a renewable biofuel produced from sugarcane. This widespread adoption underscores Brazil’s commitment to sustainable energy, reducing its dependence on fossil fuels, and lowering carbon emissions. The success of sugarcane-based ethanol highlights Brazil as a global leader in biofuels for transportation.
Brazil’s journey toward ethanol-powered vehicles began decades ago, leveraging its abundant sugarcane crops. Ethanol, produced from sugarcane, proved to be both efficient and environmentally friendly, offering a viable alternative to gasoline. This renewable biofuel has played a crucial role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, making Brazil’s transportation sector one of the greenest in the world.
A significant factor in the widespread adoption of ethanol in Brazil is the popularity of flex-fuel vehicles. These cars can run on any mix of gasoline and ethanol, providing flexibility and cost savings for consumers. According to the Brazilian Association of Automotive Vehicle Manufacturers (Anfavea), flex-fuel cars accounted for 84.5% of all auto sales in June 2023 per Bloomberg. This dominance of ethanol-powered vehicles demonstrates Brazil’s preference for biofuels over traditional gasoline engines.
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Despite the success of ethanol, Brazil faces significant challenges in adopting electric vehicles (EVs). One major hurdle is the lack of charging infrastructure. At the end of 2020, Brazil had only one public charger per 12.9 EVs, compared to one for every 5.4 in China and every 3 in the Netherlands. This infrastructure gap hinders the widespread adoption of EVs, as consumers find it more convenient to stick with ethanol-powered vehicles.
“Brazil needs to step out of its comfort zone if it does not want to become isolated from the rest of the world,” said Lourenço Faria, a researcher at University of Copenhagen.
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The sugar industry is a powerful economic force in Brazil, contributing significantly to the country’s GDP. Ethanol production supports the agribusiness sector and provides an economic buffer against global oil price fluctuations. This economic reliance on ethanol complicates the political landscape, making it difficult for the government to fully commit to an EV transition without disrupting the existing economic balance.
Ethanol-powered cars have significantly lower lifetime carbon emissions compared to traditional gasoline vehicles. Research indicates that the lifetime emissions of Brazil’s sugarcane cars are around 16.7 tons of carbon dioxide each, versus 40-50 tons for similar combustion models worldwide. This substantial reduction in emissions has helped Brazil achieve relatively low levels of air pollution, positioning it ahead of many developed economies in terms of environmental performance.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recognized Brazilian sugarcane ethanol as an advanced biofuel due to its 61% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. This recognition underscores the environmental benefits of Brazil’s ethanol program and validates its role as a leader in sustainable transportation.
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The Brazilian government is attempting to balance its support for ethanol with the growing need for electric vehicles. To support the sugar industry, the government continues to incentivize ethanol through lower taxes and federal carbon-credit programs. Simultaneously, it is attracting electric-car manufacturers from China by offering incentives such as proximity to local battery-metal deposits and access to Latin American markets.
“It is not about denying the electric vehicles, but ethanol still holds a place in Brazil’s journey for the next 10 to 15 years, especially because hybrids increase efficiency,” said Paula Kovarsky, chief strategy officer at Brazil’s biggest sugar-cane processor, Raizen.
Brazil’s ethanol fuel program continues to innovate, utilizing modern agricultural technology and residual bagasse to meet the country’s energy demands. As the second-largest producer of ethanol globally, Brazil is well-positioned to maintain its leadership in biofuels while exploring new opportunities in the EV market. Although projections indicate that battery-electric vehicles will account for around 7% of light vehicle sales in Brazil by 2030, the country’s commitment to ethanol remains strong.
“Ethanol is a fine fuel, but wrapped in this topic is the desire that many have of not facing the real challenges ahead,” said Robson Cruz, a partner at Barassa & Cruz Consulting and a proponent of electrification. “Addressing carbon emissions with ethanol is cheaper for automakers, but it does not mean that’s the best option for Brazil.”
