MAIN REASONS FOR THE UNPOPULARITY OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES IN RUSSIA

In Russia, the rapid development of the electric vehicle market is hampered by several major obstacles. This was explained to REGNUM by Yuri Ponomarev, senior researcher at the Gaidar Institute. This is his comment on the promise, voiced by the RF Ministry of Industry and Trade, that preferential car loans from 2022 will also apply to electric cars.

“In 2020, sales of electric vehicles accounted for only 0.1% of the total market segment volume, while at the beginning of 2021, the total number of light electric vehicles was 10,836. Further development of the situation will depend on the general economic environment and the availability of electric transport and infrastructure. The main obstacles to rapid development in this particular market segment are as follows: underdeveloped electric refueling infrastructure for electric vehicles; their costliness; lack of experience in handling them; difficult climatic conditions; and vast territories,” the expert noted.

Therefore, Yuri Ponomarev believes, it is unlikely that any dramatic changes will occur in this market over the next five years.