Russia's electric car fleet is growing rapidly

Russia's electric vehicle fleet is growing rapidly and the necessary infrastructure is expanding. In Moscow, for example, there are already 108 charging stations.

The Moscow Energy project aims to make urban transport environmentally friendly and to make it profitable for people and businesses to buy electric cars. Since the development of electric transport is directly dependent on the development of charging infrastructure, the Department of Transport has developed a strategy to develop an accessible network of charging stations.

"As of 1 January 2020, there were 594 electric cars registered in Moscow, now there are about 3,500 electric cars. And we think, with the development of electric vehicle production, there will continue to be geometric growth," said Aleksandra Shumskaya, head of the Moscow Energy Project.

Charging stations can be fast or slow: both can charge several cars at the same time.

"Slow ones are installed so that the driver of the electric car can recharge it during long meetings. Or when they leaves for work or, conversely, when they come home," said Shumska.

Using an electric car is environmentally and economically beneficial.  In Russia, for example, owners of such vehicles pay no transport tax, and parking and charging for them is free.

"We choose locations so that it is convenient for people to recharge their cars without any distractions. Charging stations have been installed near shops, shopping centres and business centres. And everything is made so that the electric car driver arrives, leaves the car to charge and goes about their business, to drink coffee or to work," said the head of the Moscow Energy project.

Infrastructure, utilities, required capacity: The project authors predict that the industry will only pick up speed. In the near future in Moscow, and soon in other Russian cities as well, electric cars will have a good chance of replacing petrol and diesel cars on motorways.

Photo: TV BRICS