A year ago, the government approved a concept for developing the production and use of electric vehicles through 2030. This analysis reviews real statistics, summarizes interim results, and offers cautious forecasts.
Where is the growth happening?
This year, the highest numbers of new electric vehicles were recorded in Moscow (785), the Moscow region (241), St. Petersburg (179) and the Krasnodar region (150). These regions are economically stronger, and Krasnodar’s warmer climate makes it a favorable environment for electric vehicles. In other regions, sales barely reached fifty units.
Strikingly, despite the global crisis, demand for electric vehicles continues to rise. Many models show double or even triple-digit growth, a natural outcome when starting from a low base. Relative gains appear large when absolute figures are small. For instance, the Voronezh region reports a 429% increase, yet sales total only 37 electric vehicles. If the Russian car market contracts by around 60% this year, the green segment is projected to grow by about 11%, though still under 0.5% of the market.
The majority of new electric vehicles are purchased in the Central and European parts of Russia, accounting for roughly 95% of demand. Second-hand sales in Siberia and the Far East represent about 31%, with many used imports from Japan featuring right-hand drive.
Who is in demand?
As of November, Avtostat records show that among the 23.3 thousand registered hybrids and electric vehicles in Russia, more than half (52.9%) are Nissan. The Leaf has not been officially delivered, but used five-door Leafa abound in the secondary market, spanning two generations. The oldest units command prices similar to used Grants, with some models delivering a modest 50–70 km range on a full charge.
Next in popularity are Tesla (10.4%), Mitsubishi (9.8%), Porsche (4.5%), BMW (3.9%), Toyota and Volvo (3% each, 4% for Volvo), Audi (3.1%), Chevrolet (2.4%), and Jaguar (1.3%). While official, affordable electric cars remain scarce, the presence of numerous used Nissan Leafs demonstrates solid demand.
Premium models followed in the showroom include the Jaguar I-Pace, Audi e-tron, and Porsche Taycan, with the latter becoming less favored over time. Market dynamics suggest that Nissan Leafs will continue to arrive in large numbers, and premium electric vehicles will accumulate in fleets.
New brands like Evolute and Skywell have entered production, and in 2023 the revival Moskvich line is expected to see mass-market electric versions. Planned volumes run into several thousand cars, with Evolute projecting about 15,000 units. Grey imports from around the world will further diversify the market.
Nissan Leaf remains the nation’s fleet leader in electric vehicles.
Electric cars for the masses?
Reality shows that a true mass-market electric car is not imminent in Russia. A survey on the site indicates that 43.8% of motorists would not consider such a purchase, while 35.1% are waiting for lower prices. Among the rest, 5.6% would definitely choose Tesla, and a small portion would rely on exclusive imports from grey markets. The remainder consider officially offered models.
Avtostat surveys echo this sentiment: 32.4% would consider an electric car, while 40.3% would not. The top obstacle remains the price (54.1%), with charging infrastructure growth (49.7%) following closely. Nevertheless, the sector is advancing in terms of infrastructure, even if costs remain high.
Currently, Russians can buy electric cars either off the shelf or by order from factories. For example, the Volkswagen ID.6, assembled in China under different prefixes, is available through two joint ventures.
Where to charge?
The charging network in Russia trails behind leading global powers. China leads with 3.92 million charging points, followed by the European Union with 330,000, the United States with 140,000, and Russia with 4,367. Only 688 are fast chargers, which is a critical limitation for convenience. Still, the system shows potential for rapid charging on capable networks, allowing a battery to reach 50% in around a half-hour to an hour on fast connections.
With mandatory registration across 35 charging-station operators, the user base stands at about 19,650 individuals performing over 70,000 charging sessions each month. A single vehicle may hold multiple accounts within operator apps, so actual car-based usage is somewhat lower. The majority appears to rely on the domestic network for charging. Slow AC chargers are most common in the Moscow region (630) and Moscow (360), with Krasnodar Territory (220) trailing. Fast DC points rank highest in Moscow (68), Krasnoyarsk Territory (51) and Primorye (45).
New charging infrastructure in major cities is emerging. The question remains whether it will expand at the pace of the growing park.
What is the outlook?
By the end of 2024, Russia aims to have 2,900 fast and 9,400 slow charging stations operational. Subsidies are modest and regionally targeted, with 1.37 billion rubles allocated for 493 charging stations this year. Subventions cover 60% of terminal costs and 30% of work costs, up to 2.76 million rubles per project. By 2030, plans call for 72,000 fast and 28,000 slow charges. Skepticism remains, yet examining the development trajectory reveals potential for substantial growth.
The emphasis is on infrastructure rather than supply alone. If the plans unfold as intended, a meaningful share of new car sales in Russia could be electric within a few years, with buyers already expressing intent in surveys.
If demand aligns with projections, Evolute i-Pro could become one of the most widely adopted electric cars in the country in the coming years.
Expert commentary
Konstantin Alyabiev, General Manager of PUNKT E, notes that in 2022 the Russian charging network progressed faster than initially expected relative to the growing electric fleet. The number of fast charging stations expanded severalfold, and the federal program contributed to the deployment of many 150 kW stations in pilot regions. The infrastructure is positioned to support mass distribution as the park expands.
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