Russia intends to produce 730,000 electric vehicles (EVs) between 2022 and 2030, with an initial production target of 25,000 by the end of 2024.
This aim, which is contained in a government-authorized electric transportation development program, includes the production of 217,000 EV automobiles by 2030. According to the latest data from the Association of European Business, Russian automobile sales were over 1.6 million last year, with Avtovaz, the maker of the Lada brand, accounting for almost 20% of the local market.
Russia has approximately 11,000 operational EVs, the majority of which are buses used for public transportation in Moscow and other cities. Bus producers include Kamaz, a subsidiary of Russia’s state-owned Rostec, as well as privately held Gaz and Volgabus, which produce roughly 300 vehicles per year.
Several private-sector automotive companies have created concept EVs, but no commercial production has occurred. Zetta delayed plans to begin production last year, and the Russian industry and commerce ministry stated in March that the company may begin EV production by the end of this year. Kamaz unveiled EV in December but has yet to declare a commercial production timeline.
The approach includes hydrogen-powered vehicles, although no amount is specified.
According to the proposal, adequate charging infrastructure for EVs is one station for every ten electric vehicles, implying that Russia will need to create at least 73,000 charging stations by the end of the decade. These will include 44,000 slow charging stations capable of charging 40% of vehicles in two hours or more, and 29,000 fast charging stations capable of charging 80% of vehicles in 20-30 minutes.
The network of electric charging stations in Russia will increase faster than the fleet of electric vehicles during the next three years, according to the program, and the government will have to provide major help to private station builders. The strategy calls for the development of up to 9,400 charging stations between 2022 and 2024, comprising 6,500 slow charging stations and 2,900 rapid charging stations. At present time, charging infrastructure will be built exclusively on federal highways and in yet-to-be-determined pilot zones. According to the program, the distance between any two charging stations on a federal highway should not exceed 100km, and the density of the network in a city should be one station for every 4km2.
According to the electric transportation development program authorized today, Russia will begin building hydrogen refueling stations for automobiles in 2025 and will create 1,000 stations by the end of 2030.
