According to Decree No. 4110200790 of December 30, 2016, sanctioned by the Mayor's Office of Cali, as of July 1, 2017, some changes to the 'pico y placa' measure in the city of Cali come into effect. From this date, the 'pico y placa' is extended by two hours, one hour in the morning and one in the afternoon, resulting in a 'pico y placa' from 6 am to 10 am and from 4 pm to 8 pm.
These new measures, which inconvenience many residents of Cali, become another problem for drivers in the city, as well as in other cities where the 'pico y placa' measure no longer solves the mobility problem. Like many Colombians, the people of Cali, in search of solutions, have decided to acquire other types of vehicles to face this problem, thereby increasing the vehicle fleet of the city and the country. Electric vehicles become an ecological alternative and also allow the reduction of environmental impact.
A more ecological solution to this 'pico y placa' problem is the acquisition of an electric vehicle, which does not produce polluting gases. However, this mobility solution has had many problems in being implemented in our country, mainly due to the limited information that Colombians have about this ecological transportation alternative, which may derive from the little interest that the government has given to this issue, since electric vehicles have been in Colombia since 2008 with the presentation of the REVA, the first electric car in the country. Until a few years ago, the government began developing promotion strategies and issued Resolution 160 of the Ministry of Transportation to regulate them.
Once the government regulates electric vehicles, it grants them the greatest benefit that a car can have, which is being exempt from the 'pico y placa'. In the case of Cali, in 2015, the Mayor's Office issued Resolution No. 4152.0.21.017 of January 9, 2015, in which it established the registry of those exempt from the 'pico y placa' measure in the city, among which, in Paragraph Three, numeral 17, it establishes that vehicles powered by electric motors are exempt from the 'pico y placa' measure.
A factor that is very important when deciding to buy an electric car is its price, since, although in Colombia these cars do not have to pay tariffs, and only pay 5% VAT, while tariffs and VAT paid by a particular vehicle are 35%, their price is still very high, around 100 million pesos for an electric car, a price that most Colombians are not willing to pay for a new car.
For this reason, engineers from different parent companies have created electric quadricycles. These quadricycles are defined by Resolution 160 of the Ministry of Transportation as: a motor vehicle with four wheels, with its own stability, whose unladen mass is less than or equal to 450 kg for vehicles for the transport of people or 600 kg for vehicles with the possibility of transporting goods within the chassis and body of the vehicle, excluding the mass of the batteries for electric vehicles, and with an engine with a displacement greater than 50 cm3 or whose power is less than or equal to 15 kW for those with an electric motor.
These quadricycles are the perfect solution for people who want a second car that is ecological, accessible, and without 'pico y placa'. Different brands manufacture them, the most common in Colombia is the Renault Twizy. This electric quadricycle has the capacity to transport two people with total comfort and safety, as it meets all the standards set by Euro NCAP. This vehicle can be recharged at home with a 240-volt outlet in just 3.5 hours, providing a range of 100 kilometers, a distance much greater than what a normal person travels in the city in a day.
This quadricycle is very accessible compared to other electric cars, since unlike other cars that cost around 100 million pesos, the Renault Twizy has an approximate price of 36 million pesos.
In addition to the Renault Twizy, in the Colombian market there are more models of quadricycles that can be purchased today, such as the Chock S, a quadricycle for 4 passengers marketed by the brand Be Electric, which is a compact vehicle, 100% electric, and designed for the city.
In conclusion, if you are thinking of solutions to face the 'pico y placa' problem, are considering acquiring a second vehicle, and want a more efficient, ecological, and accessible transportation alternative, you should consider electric quadricycles as a solution to the 'pico y placa'.