In two years, the fleet of electric and electrified cars grows 210.4% in Sorocaba (SP) — Photo: Marcel Scinocca/g1
The survey was based on data from the National Traffic Secretariat (Senatran). As of July 2024, the municipality has 557 electric vehicles. In 2026, this number more than doubled, jumping to 1,977.
The survey considers three categories cataloged by Senatran:
Electric: from 41 to 206 - an increase of 402.4%;
Electric with external energy source: jumped from 431 to 1,609 units - an increase of 273.3%;
Electric with internal energy source: went from 85 to 162 units - an increase of 90.6%.
🔎 An electric vehicle with an external energy source is one whose battery can be recharged by connecting the vehicle to an external socket or charging station. An electric car with an internal energy source is one powered by an electric motor that generates or recharges its own electricity on board, without relying exclusively on external sockets.
Growth did not occur linearly. Between July 2024 and July 2025, the city's electric fleet grew 68.9%, going from 557 to 941 vehicles. Between July 2025 and July 2026, the pace accelerated: progress was 110.1%, with the fleet reaching 1,977 units.
The data is part of the National Registry of Motor Vehicles (Renavam) and is updated monthly by the Ministry of Transport.
🚘What was the fleet like in 2024?
In July 2024, Sorocaba's 557 100% electric cars were divided as follows:
431 electric type with external power source;
85 electric type with internal power source;
41 electric type.
During this period, the electric category with external energy sources concentrated the largest share of the city's electric fleet, a scenario that continued in the following two years.
🔋🛢️Hybrid vehicles are also growing
In addition to 100% electric cars, Sorocaba's hybrid fleet also recorded significant expansion in the period. See the table below:
Growth of hybrid cars in Sorocaba
Category July 2024 July 2025 July 2026 Growth in %
Hybrid 77 vehicles 144 vehicles 292 vehicles 279.2%
Plug-in hybrid 117 vehicles 272 vehicles 542 vehicles 363.2%
Combined, the two categories of hybrids went from 194 vehicles in July 2024 to 834 in July 2026, an increase of 329.9%. Growth also accelerated from one year to the next: between July 2024 and July 2025, the increase was 114.4%. Between July 2025 and July 2026, 100.5%.
When considering all vehicles with some degree of electrification (which includes, in addition to pure electric and hybrid vehicles, flex or diesel models equipped with an auxiliary electric motor), the Sorocaba fleet totaled 2,301 units in July 2024, 3,673 in July 2025 and 7,142 in July 2026.
Growth was 59.6% between July 2024 and July 2025, 94.4% between July 2025 and July 2026 and 210.4% accumulated between July 2024 and July 2026.
Share in total fleet
In two years, the fleet of electric and electrified cars grows 210.4% in Sorocaba (SP) — Photo: Marcel Scinocca/g1
Despite the significant increase, the share of vehicles with some degree of electrification in relation to the city's total fleet is still small, being 0.43% in 2024, 0.66% in 2025 and 1.25 in 2026. Currently, the total vehicle fleet in the city is 571,753, according to the Ministry of Transport.
Economy and comfort
Insurance broker Paula Guimarães Lopes has had her hybrid since January this year and has nothing to complain about. She drives around 80 km a day and says she felt the difference in several aspects. "It made a good difference in my pocket. I spent around R$600 to R$700 on fuel per month. And now there's around R$300, R$350 more on the electricity bill", he says.
The biggest difference is in other aspects. "I really liked it. The car is also very comfortable. Besides, it doesn't make any noise, it doesn't even feel like it's on," he says.
According to Paula, the next step is to add solar energy to your home to save even more. The decision has not yet been fully taken based on the first budgets it received.
Paula Guimarães Lopes has had her hybrid since January this year and has nothing to complain about; fleet grew in Sorocaba (SP) — Photo: Personal Archive
Expert warns
Renato Campestrini, lawyer and specialist in traffic, mobility and road safety, recalls that the biggest gain in switching from combustion vehicles to electric or electrified vehicles is for the environment.
"The practical issue is that little changes in relation to whether a vehicle's energy matrix is combustion or electric. We do have gains for the environment, which no longer receives the load of pollutants that combustion vehicles emit to those responsible for the greenhouse effect, and the vast majority of electrical energy ends up being produced in a clean way. So, yes, this is a significant gain for the environment, for the quality of the air we breathe."
The expert, however, ponders. "On the other hand, we have observed in the issue of vehicles that have arrived, electric vehicles, most of them, of these latest launches, for example, are vehicles in the SUV category, sports utility vehicles, larger vehicles that need larger dimensions to park, to occupy space in the lane designated for traffic", he says.
And there is also the issue of pedestrians being run over. Larger, taller vehicles end up causing more serious injuries to pedestrians. So, a priori, these are the impacts. We have improved air quality, but when it comes to fluidity, we continue to have the usual difficulties. Some people may disagree with me, but [difficulties] are even greater due to the dimensions that these new vehicles, for the most part, have reached the market", he adds.
Changes in legislation
For now, the specialist does not see the need for changes to the legislation to meet the new demand.
"In relation to traffic legislation, I do not see the need for changes, considering that it covers the traffic of motor vehicles. Pedestrian traffic [...] I cannot see a need at the moment to adapt the legislation due to electric vehicles", he pointed out.
"People have to be aware that the electric vehicle does not make noise when it approaches a pedestrian. And for elderly people, especially, drawing attention to this is a challenge. People have a smaller, more reduced hearing capacity. The vast majority of electric vehicles that reach the market are larger than conventional cars. So, this is a risk for the child too. The lack of noise from the vehicle in traffic ends up being a problem."
With the issue of lack of noise in vehicles, other situations deserve even more care, according to the lawyer.
"Many people use headphones when walking, they go out onto public roads, sometimes looking at their cell phone screen and listening to something on their headphones and counting on the noise of a motor vehicle. And electric vehicles don't have that, so it's a matter of greater attention for both drivers", says Campestrini.
"Some countries have determined that vehicles must have minimal noise, but be noticeable to people, who notice their approach. So, this is a matter of care that the driver needs to put into practice and for the pedestrian to be even more attentive when crossing."
Campestrini also remembers that, with more electric cars on the roads, the need to improve road maintenance increases even more. “Maintenance needs to be more frequent. The pavement conditions need to be in good condition, because the tendency is for these new vehicles to come loaded with technologies, such as, for example, autonomous driving. And it needs signage in good condition so that the vehicle can flow. It would be hypocritical for me to say that autonomous vehicles will not arrive in the country. It will come, it may take a while, but it will come."
In two years, the fleet of electric and electrified cars grows 210.4% in Sorocaba (SP) — Photo: Marcel Scinocca/g1
In two years, the fleet of electric and electrified cars grows 210.4% in Sorocaba (SP) — Photo: Marcel Scinocca/g1
In two years, the fleet of electric and electrified cars grows 210% in Sorocaba (SP); image shows part of the hybrid engine components — Photo: Marcel Scinocca/g1
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