Electric mobility is gaining ground in Uruguay with a proposal that combines economic efficiency and environmental benefits. Driving an electric car can cost up to 90% less than using gasoline, encouraging its adoption.
Moreover, this change reflects a structural transformation of the automotive fleet. Consequently, light electric vehicles already exceed 2% of the total, whereas in 2021 they barely reached 0.08%.
Therefore, the accelerated growth evidences a paradigm shift. Likewise, Uruguay positioned itself in 2025 as the market with the largest expansion of electric car sales in Latin America.
How much can one save with an electric car compared to a gasoline one?
Sustained growth and transition to a cleaner energy matrix
The advancement of electric cars is linked to a strategy of reducing fossil fuel use. In this sense, the weight of oil in energy consumption has dropped from about 70% in the seventies to around 54% in recent years.
However, transportation continues to be one of the main focuses of consumption. Therefore, electrification emerges as a key tool to reduce emissions and external dependence.
Likewise, sales reflect this change. In 2024 there were about 8,000 units, while in 2025 more than 14,000 were sold, reaching 21% of the market. In the first two months of 2026, the figure rose to 31%.
Economic savings, greater autonomy, and infrastructure expansion
One of the main incentives is savings. Traveling 10,000 kilometers in a gasoline car can cost about 53,000 pesos, while in an electric one the expense drops to about 5,000 pesos with a residential rate.
Even in less favorable scenarios, such as public charging, costs remain lower. Consequently, savings range between 58% and 90%, depending on the type of charge used.
On the other hand, autonomy is no longer a limitation. Currently, the average reaches 491 kilometers, with 95% of models exceeding 300 kilometers per charge.
Additionally, the infrastructure supports this growth. Uruguay has more than 220 public charging points and about 420 connectors, many of them fast, facilitating longer distance trips.
Benefits of electric cars: how much is saved compared to a gasoline one?.
What are the benefits of electric cars?
Beyond savings, electric cars provide key advantages for the environment. Firstly, they significantly reduce pollutant gas emissions, improving air quality in cities.
They also decrease noise pollution, as they generate less noise than combustion engines. This contributes to healthier and more livable urban environments.
On the other hand, they require less mechanical maintenance, which implies less waste generation and use of lubricants. Consequently, their life cycle can be more sustainable.
Finally, their integration with renewable energies opens new opportunities. In this way, electric vehicles can operate with clean electricity, reinforcing the transition to a more sustainable energy system.
