Share of cheaper electric cars in Russia rises to 43%

The share of cheaper electric vehicles, the largest market segment with prices ranging from 2 million to 5 million roubles ($23,000–$58,000), has risen to 43% in Russia, Armen Safaryan, chairman of the Association of Charging Station Manufacturers and Operators, has said.

He noted that until recently most models cost more than 5 million roubles ($58,000), their share has now fallen to 31%, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

Safaryan claimed that the positive trend was linked to the emergence of local brands and the launch of domestic assembly. However, electric cars remain less affordable than petrol and diesel vehicles: almost a third of internal-combustion engine vehicle listings are priced at up to 3 million roubles ($35,000).

Safaryan attributed the increase to the growing number of electric vehicles amid fuel shortages, as well as hybrid owners switching to electric mode to avoid queues at petrol stations.

According to him, charging infrastructure is developing rapidly enough, while the difficulties are largely caused by motorists’ tendency to charge their vehicles en masse in the evening.

As a solution, the expert proposed that operators introduce time-based flexible tariffs, which would help reduce evening demand and make charging more affordable for users.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov