Two-thirds of Brazilians would give up their car or motorbike for cleaner transport if practical alternatives were available, according to research from the Institute for Climate and Society.
The survey found 67% were prepared to switch to options including bicycles, scooters, trains and metro systems. Around 29% said they would not change while 4% were unsure.
Comfort, convenience and safety remain the biggest barriers.
Among those unwilling to switch, 26% cited comfort, 20% practicality and 16% safety. Journey time was identified by 13%, suggesting cleaner transport must compete with private vehicles on reliability as well as emissions.
The research found metro systems were seen as the best option for everyday travel by 29% of respondents, up from 12% in 2017. Bicycles followed at 27%, rising sharply from 16%.
Cars fell from first place to third, with 19% selecting them as the best daily transport option compared with 30% three years earlier. Buses also dropped from 19% to 10%, reflecting widespread dissatisfaction with public transport quality.
Bus travel remained the most commonly used form of transport, particularly among lower-income households and people living in metropolitan areas.
The findings show the transition cannot rely solely on replacing petrol cars with electric models. Investment will also be needed in public transport, cycling infrastructure, safety and services capable of matching the convenience of private vehicles.
Air pollution is already a significant concern, with only 28% rating the air in their city as good or very good.
Cars were identified as the main cause of urban air pollution by 42% of respondents, followed by industry at 19%, buses at 18% and lorries at 11%.
Support for moving away from fossil fuels was also strong, 83% wanted petrol use reduced and 74% supported cutting diesel consumption. By contrast, 47% wanted greater use of biofuels while 37% backed an increase in hydrogen.
The Institute for Climate and Society also found 92% wanted more electric buses in Brazilian cities.
However, just 27% had high confidence that the Government would successfully replace fossil fuels with cleaner alternatives, despite 50% believing it had the technical capacity to do so.
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