Curitiba → Joinville → Itajaí Route by Electric Car
The short answer
From Curitiba to Joinville it's about 180 km, and the BR-101 continues to Araquari and Itajaí. You can charge at the start, in Pinhais (60 kW DC) or in Boqueirão (60 kW DC), both open 24 hours, and in Araquari, halfway along, which is not open 24 hours.
A guide to planning the trip from Curitiba to Itajaí by electric car via the BR-101: kilometers per leg, where to charge and how much battery to keep in reserve.
Curitiba → Joinville: ~180 km
The exit from Curitiba toward Joinville follows the BR-116 and BR-101, a route of approximately 180 km. It's the first long leg of the trip, and the point where most popular electric cars, with real range in the 250 to 350 km band, still have battery to spare to continue without stopping to recharge along the way.
Joinville → Araquari → Itajaí
After Joinville, the BR-101 continues north to Araquari, home to Elektro Charge's newest unit, inside the Multi Space mall. From there, the highway continues to Itajaí, on the northern coast of Santa Catarina. It's the final stage of the route, and the same BR-101 that continues afterward to Balneário Camboriú and Florianópolis, which, starting from Curitiba, is about 300 km away. Itajaí is an earlier stop on that same path, so the full route to it comes in a little below that figure.
Where to charge along the way
The Elektro Charge network covers the exit from Curitiba and the midpoint along the BR-101:
Elektro Charge charging points on the route
Pinhais, PR (Curitiba exit): 60 kW DC, 2× CCS2, open 24 hours
Boqueirão, Curitiba/PR (Curitiba exit): 60 kW DC, 2× CCS2 (shared power), open 24 hours
Araquari, SC (halfway, on the BR-101): 80 kW DC, 2× CCS2, hours on the unit's page
Pinhais and Boqueirão operate 24 hours, which helps anyone leaving at dawn or returning late. Araquari is not open 24 hours: the hours are Monday to Saturday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sundays and holidays from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., so it's not the point to count on for a late-night stop.
After Araquari, on the final stretch to Itajaí, apps like PlugShare and Zletric help locate other charging stations along the BR-101, now outside the Elektro Charge network.
Battery planning by real range
The official range (PBEV standard) is usually 10% to 25% higher than the real range on the highway, because of highway speeds, air conditioning and driving style. It's worth planning by real range, not by the spec-sheet figure.
- Real range above 300 km: the Curitiba-Joinville leg (~180 km) uses well under half the battery. You can continue to Araquari without stress and decide there whether to recharge for the final leg to Itajaí.
- Real range between 200 and 300 km: it's worth charging in Pinhais or Boqueirão before leaving, and using Araquari as a planned stop, not a last-minute plan B, since its hours are limited. Check the hours on the Araquari unit's page.
- Any range: leave with the highest charge possible. Pinhais and Boqueirão are 24 hours, so there's no reason to leave Curitiba with a low battery.
Start the trip with a full charge
Pinhais (60 kW) or Boqueirão (60 kW), 24 hours, the ideal starting point before the BR-101.
See the Pinhais unit →Frequently asked questions
How many km is the Curitiba to Joinville route by electric car?
About 180 km between Curitiba and Joinville. From there, the BR-101 continues north to Araquari and then to Itajaí, a total route that comes close to the 300 km that already separate Curitiba from Florianópolis, since Itajaí is an earlier stage on that same path.
Where to charge between Curitiba and Itajaí by electric car?
At the exit from Curitiba, the Elektro Charge charging stations in Pinhais and Boqueirão, both open 24 hours, with 60 kW DC in Pinhais and 60 kW in Boqueirão. Halfway along, from September 3, 2026, the Araquari charging station, at the Multi Space mall, with 80 kW DC and its own hours. After Araquari, apps like PlugShare and Zletric help map other charging stations along the BR-101 to Itajaí.
Do I need to charge before leaving Curitiba?
It's the safest recommendation: leave with a full battery or close to it. Pinhais and Boqueirão operate 24 hours, so you can charge at the start regardless of your departure time.
Is the Araquari charging station open at any time?
No. The hours are Monday to Saturday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sundays and holidays from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Unlike Pinhais and Boqueirão, which are 24 hours.
What real range do I need for this route?
The real range of an electric car is usually 10% to 25% below the official figure (PBEV). Models with real range above 300 km cover Curitiba-Joinville comfortably; to continue to Araquari and Itajaí, it's worth planning a charge halfway rather than relying on a single charge.
