There are not very many electric vehicles on our roads. But the breakthrough is closer than it might seem.
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From January to October 2022, 2090 new electric vehicles were sold in Russia. This is a third more (+34%) than a year earlier. However, the share of sales of “green” cars in our country is only about 0.4% of the total market for new cars.
Of the European countries, Slovakia is closest to us, where four times more environmentally friendly cars are sold than in Russia (1.6%). Germany, with its most powerful auto industry, has 14%, Sweden has exceeded a quarter (26.2%), and Norway is the absolute leader with 69%.
Most of all new electric vehicles are taken in Moscow (785 units in 10 months), Moscow region (241), St. Petersburg (179) and Krasnodar region (150). Everything is logical: the regions are not poor, and the latter also has a warm climate, conducive to the trouble-free operation of battery machines. The rest of the regions did not even reach fifty copies.
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Japan on the march
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Almost 95% of the demand for new electric trains falls on the Central and European parts of Russia. But when it comes to used ones, Siberia and the Far East are already winning 31% instead of 5%.
It is clear that these are mainly electric cars imported from Japan. The volume of imports is such that it is enough for the whole country.
According to Autostat, out of 23.3 thousand hybrids and electric vehicles registered in Russia, more than half (52.9%) are Nissan.
The Leaf hatchback was not officially delivered to us (although Nissan planned almost seriously), but these five-doors are abundant in the secondary market in both generations. The oldest ones are sold at the price of a used Grant of medium shabby quality, although the power reserve on a full charge for some has fallen to a miserable 50–70 km, which owners sometimes honestly write about in ads for sale.
The leading positions of the inexpensive Leaf show that there is a demand for budget electric vehicles in Russia.
Nissan Leaf is the leader of the country’s electric vehicle fleet.Nissan Leaf is the leader of the country’s electric vehicle fleet.
China at the gate
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But soon the alignment may change radically: the “Chinese” are on the threshold.
The restarted Motorinvest plant is going to produce 15,000 Evolute electric vehicles per year (copies of Dongfeng models).
Moskvich threatens to make 10,000 Moskvich 3e electric crossovers (JAC JS4 clone).
The Skywell brand, which has not yet been promoted even in China, wants to build 3,000 cars in Russia in 2023.
Now in Russia you can buy from stock or order any electric exclusive. For example, Volkswagen ID.6, which with different prefixes – X and Crozz – is assembled in China at two joint ventures.Now in Russia you can buy from stock or order any electric exclusive. For example, Volkswagen ID.6, which with different prefixes – X and Crozz – is assembled in China at two joint ventures.
Evolute i‑Pro, if the demand matches the calculated one, in a couple of years it may become the most numerous electric car in Russia.Evolute i‑Pro, if the demand matches the calculated one, in a couple of years it may become the most numerous electric car in Russia.
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And that is not all.
Avtotor electric trains will be made (probable partner is BAIC). It is possible that Sollers, who needs to occupy the capacities of the plant in Vladivostok, will take care of them. There are rumors about the official entry into the Russian market of “green” models of Chery and Hongqi. This is not to mention the “gray” deliveries: not only local models are brought from China, but also European ones assembled there.
In sum, it turns out that plans have been announced for the year to increase sales of electric trains 15 times, no less. At the same time, no one is talking about the abolition of import duties on electric vehicles that returned from January 1, 2022!
Where to recharge?
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Our network of charging stations is not yet comparable to the world’s. The absolute leader is China, where there are 3.92 million charging points. There are 330,000 of them in the European Union, 140,000 in the USA, and only 4,367 in Russia.
Of these, only 688 are fast. But these are exactly what are needed to make electric cars comparable in convenience to gasoline and diesel ones. On powerful speakers, you can charge the battery to 50% capacity or more in half an hour or an hour.
Slow AC stations are the most in the Moscow region (630), Moscow (360) and the Krasnodar Territory (220). Moscow (68), Krasnoyarsk Territory (51) and Primorye (45) are leaders in fast DC points.
Charging infrastructure in big cities somehow appears. The question is whether it will be developed and maintained in line with the growth rate of the electric fleet.Charging infrastructure in big cities somehow appears. The question is whether it will be developed and maintained in line with the growth rate of the electric fleet.
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The development plan for charging is even more fantastic than for sales of electric vehicles.
Until the end of 2024, 2,900 fast and 9,400 slow charging stations should operate in Russia. Until the end of 2030 – 72 and 28 thousand, respectively.
Charging is not cheap, and without state support this cannot be mastered. However, for example, in 2022, state subsidies for their installation are given only in 12 regions of the country: 1.37 billion rubles for 493 electric filling stations. Moreover, only part of the costs is subsidized: 60% of the cost of the terminal and 30% of the cost of work, but in the amount of not more than 2.76 million rubles per outlet.
This year will show how justified all these projects are.
Whether it is necessary to relearn to drive an electric car is described here. “Behind the wheel” can now be read in Telegram.
