From January to October 2022, 2090 new electric vehicles were sold in Russia. That 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 new car market.
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 strongest automotive 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 purchased in Moscow (785 units in 10 months), the Moscow region (241), St. Petersburg (179) and the Krasnodar region (150). Everything is logical: the regions are not poor, and the latter also has a warm climate, which is conducive to trouble-free operation of battery machines. The rest of the regions didn’t even make it to fifty copies.
Japan on the march
Almost 95% of the demand for new electric trains falls in the Central and European parts of Russia. But when it comes to used ones, Siberia and the Far East are already gaining 31% instead of 5%.
It is clear that these are mainly electric cars imported from Japan. The import volume is such that it is enough for the whole country.
According to Autostat, more than half (52.9%) of the 23.3 thousand hybrids and electric vehicles registered in Russia are Nissan.
The Leaf hatchback was not officially delivered to us (although Nissan almost seriously planned it), but this five-door is abundant in the secondary market in both generations. The oldest are sold for the price of a used Grant of average shabby quality, although the power reserve on a full charge has dropped to a miserable 50-70 km for some, which owners sometimes honestly write about in advertisements for sale.
The leading positions of the low-cost Leaf show that there is a demand for low-cost electric vehicles in Russia.
Nissan Leaf is the nation’s electric vehicle fleet leader.
China at the gate
But soon the alignment may change radically: the “Chinese” are on the threshold.
The rebooted Motorinvest plant will produce 15,000 Evolute electric vehicles per year (copies of Dongfeng models).
Moskvich threatens to make 10,000 Moskvich 3rd electric crossovers (JAC JS4 clone).
The Skywell brand, which has not yet been promoted even in China, aims to build 3,000 cars in Russia by 2023.
And that is not all.
Electric Avtotor trains will be made (probable partner is BAIC). It is possible that Sollers, who must occupy the capacity of the Vladivostok plant, will take care of them. There are rumors about the official entry into the Russian market of “green” models from Chery and Hongqi. Not to mention the “gray” deliveries: not only local models are brought from China, but also European ones that are assembled there.
Basically, it turns out that plans have been announced for this year to increase sales of electric trains by as much as 15 times. At the same time, no one is talking about the abolition of import duties on electric vehicles that came back on January 1, 2022!
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Where to charge?
Our network of charging stations is not yet comparable to that of the world. The absolute leader is China, where there are 3.92 million charging points. There are 330,000 in the European Union, 140,000 in the US and only 4,367 in Russia.
Of these, only 688 are fast, but this is exactly what is needed to make electric cars comparable to petrol and diesel cars in terms of convenience. On powerful speakers, you can charge the battery to 50% capacity or more in half an hour or an hour.
Slow AC stations are 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.
One way or another, charging infrastructure appears in major cities. The question is whether this will be developed and maintained in line with the growth rate of the electric vehicle fleet.
The development plan for charging is even more fantastic than for selling electric vehicles.
By the end of 2024, 2,900 fast and 9,400 slow charging stations must be operational in Russia. Until the end of 2030, 72 and 28 thousand respectively.
Charging is not cheap, and it is impossible to master without state support. For example, in 2022, state subsidies for their installation will be given only in 12 regions of the country: 1.37 billion rubles for 493 electric filling stations. Moreover, only part of the cost is subsidized: 60% of the cost of the terminal and 30% of the cost of work, but for an amount not exceeding 2.76 million rubles per point of sale.
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This year will show how justified all these projects are.
- Whether it is necessary to learn to drive an electric car again is described here.
- “Drive” can now be read in Telegram.
There are not many electric vehicles on our roads. But the breakthrough is closer than it seems.
What is the demand for “green” cars in Russia? The answer will surprise you!