As an era closes: Electric, internal combustion, and those caught in between

In Turkey, the debate over electric vehicles is swinging between two extremes without finding a rational middle ground: On one side are those saying, 'the future is here, don't be late'; on the other are those warning, 'there is no infrastructure, batteries are expensive, it's too early.' Yet, this debate is being framed incorrectly. Because the issue is not whether the electric car is good or bad; it is about for whom, under what conditions, and for how long it is the right choice. In other words, the real question is: For whom is an electric car the right decision?

THOSE WHOSE DAILY USE IS LIMITED TO THE CITY

Electric cars make the most sense for urban users in Turkey. For drivers who travel around 40-50 kilometers on a home-work-school route, range is not a practical problem. For these users, electric vehicles offer tangible advantages such as silence, low energy costs, and mechanical simplicity.

However, there is an essential condition here: the ability to charge at home or at work. In Turkey, where apartment living is dominant, this is still a serious threshold. Relying solely on public charging stations is not yet comfortable.

THOSE WHO BUY A VEHICLE 'TO KEEP FOR MANY YEARS'

Electric cars are more rational for those who aim to use the vehicle for a long time, rather than for those who 'change vehicles frequently' in Turkey. Because the second-hand market for electric cars is not yet established. Battery health, software updates, and technological obsolescence can lead to price fluctuations in the short term.

Conversely, for a user planning to keep the vehicle for 6–8 years or more, an electric car can lower the total cost of ownership with fuel savings, less maintenance, and tax advantages. In short, the electric car is a game for those who say, 'I will drive this for a long time,' not 'I will sell it today.'

THOSE WHOSE INCOME LEVEL IS RESISTANT TO FLUCTUATIONS

This heading is uncomfortable but true: The electric car is still a business for the upper-middle income group in Turkey. The initial purchase cost can be relatively high, there is technology risk, and the possibility of unexpected expenses has not been completely eliminated. For this reason, it can be a risky choice for those who buy a vehicle by stretching their budget to the limit. It is not wise to enter this game for those whose lives would be turned upside down if an unexpected battery issue, software problem, or rapid depreciation occurs.

TOGG, CHINESE EVS, AND EUROPEAN BRANDS: SAME TECHNOLOGY, DIFFERENT RISKS  

The electric car debate in Turkey is no longer moving on a single axis. There are three separate players in the field, and each approaches electric mobility from a completely different place: TOGG with its claim of national identity and domestic production, Chinese brands with their price-equipment balance, and European manufacturers following a cautious transition strategy.

TOGG positions the electric car in Turkey not just as a vehicle, but also as a project of the country's industrial and technology policy. This approach provides the brand with strong political and social support. However, the product is still young; its ecosystem, second-hand market, and long-term service experience need time. TOGG may be a meaningful choice for 'early adopters'; however, this choice carries more of a motivation to invest in the future than technological maturity.

Chinese electric car brands, on the other hand, are following a much more aggressive strategy. Manufacturers like BYD, in particular, are entering the market with mature battery technology, high equipment levels, and relatively accessible prices. The biggest advantage of Chinese brands is that they present the electric car not as a promise of the future, but as the mass production of the day. However, in exchange for this advantage, the consumer has to accept too much uncertainty regarding issues such as brand continuity, regulations, customs policies, and long-term second-hand value.

European brands are moving on a completely different track. Manufacturers like Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW are acting in a controlled manner in the transition to electric. While they spread the process over time with internal combustion and hybrid models, they often keep electric vehicles in the upper segment. This approach reduces technology risk; however, it drives prices up. European brands see the electric car as a controlled leg of the transition process rather than a solution accessible to everyone.

This picture clearly shows why the electric car decision cannot be reduced to a single truth. Although TOGG, Chinese EVs, and European brands seem to use the same technology, what they offer are actually different timing strategies. One suggests the courage to enter the future early, one suggests the pragmatism of evaluating today's opportunity, and the other suggests risk management by waiting.

THOSE WHO SEE REGULATORY RISK AS MANAGEABLE 

As for internal combustion engines, the biggest risk is no longer technical, but political and legal. The European Union's 2035 targets, carbon emission regulations, and restrictions imposed on city centers are effectively shortening the economic life of internal combustion vehicles.

Although Turkey seems to be outside these regulations today, the automotive sector works globally. Brands producing for the European market shape their product ranges accordingly. This is a factor that will suppress the second-hand value of internal combustion vehicles in the long term.

For this reason, the electric car is a logical option for users who want to accept the regulatory risk today and position themselves accordingly.

SO FOR WHOM IS IT NOT LOGICAL? 

– Those who travel long distances

– Those living in rural areas

– Those who do not have charging facilities in their apartment parking lot or workplace

– Those who plan to sell the vehicle in a short time

– Those who buy a vehicle by stretching their budget to the maximum level

For these profiles, an electric car can be a source of stress. At this point, internal combustion engines offer a more predictable field.

THE REAL ISSUE: STANDING IN THE RIGHT PLACE DURING THE TRANSITION PERIOD

Buying an electric car in Turkey today is not a matter of 'right or wrong'; it is a matter of timing. Electric vehicles are not yet fully mature, but they have passed a point of no return. Internal combustion engines are still functional; however, they now represent a technology whose future is not guaranteed.

Therefore, the most rational approach is to evaluate the automobile not as a status symbol or an ideological preference, but as a conscious position taken amidst uncertainties. Buying a car today means accepting which risk we are more prepared to live with, rather than choosing a model.

In the final analysis; the electric car in Turkey is more of a transition period exam than a technology debate, and the answer to this exam is not the same for everyone. For some, today is the right time, and for others, it is still too early. The real mistake is to speak as if there is a single and universal truth in this age of uncertainty.