Expert gives advice on choosing an electric car for Russian conditions

Electric cars are becoming increasingly popular in Russia. Vladislav Mazov, CEO of the Artis network of charging stations for electric cars, told Izvestia on December 24 about how to find the right vehicle for Russian weather conditions and why you should buy a used car.

According to him, as of July 2024, among 50 thousand registered electric cars in Russia, 15 thousand are Japanese Nissan Leaf. Behind it are the Chinese Zeekr 001, the American Tesla Model 3 and the domestic Evolute i-PRO.

"Depending on the country of transport production, its technical features may also differ - from the type of battery and software to charging connectors," the expert specified.

As he explained, modern electric cars are charged through special ports of several types: GB/T, Type 1, Type 2, CCS Combo 2, CHAdeMO, NACS and others. The first is used in electric cars produced for the Chinese market, Type 2 and CCS Combo 2 for the European market, Type 1 and CHAdeMO for the Japanese market, and NACS for the American market.

"Most charging stations in Russia are equipped under Type 2. To avoid looking for a charger that suits your car, it is worth buying adapters for the most common ports. That way the problem will be solved forever," Mazov advised.

He noted that the optimal weather for electric car operation is about 20 degrees without precipitation. Significant deviations from the norm directly affect the range and charging speed of the car.

"With active work in the summer and temperatures above 35 degrees, the cooling system does not always have time to cope with the load. The car will immediately warn about the first signs of battery overheating. In such a case, it is important not to stop driving, but to reduce its speed. This will allow the air flow to cool down the battery - car acid battery - faster and more effectively," the expert said.

At the same time, in winter the driver may face a significant reduction in travel - up to 50%, increased charging time, the need for additional heating and the danger of battery freezing.

At the same time Mazov added that the cost of electric cars plays an important role in the purchase. Thus, Zeekr 001 costs from 6 million rubles, Tesla Model 3 - from 2.5 to 3 million rubles, Evolute i-PRO - from 1.5 million rubles. Among the most affordable electric cars, he named Nissan Leaf in all its forms. A car with mileage costs from Br300 thousand, a new one - about Br1.5 million.

"From January 2025, the utilization fee on new electric cars will increase from 32.6 thousand rubles to 667.4 thousand rubles. This, in turn, will increase the interest of Russians in the secondary market of such cars," the expert suggested.

Mazov also emphasized that before buying a used electric car, it is necessary to conduct a thorough inspection in the service and pay attention to several points. First, the warranty on the battery: different manufacturers have different warranty conditions, usually it is from eight to 10 years or a certain amount of mileage. It is important to clarify exactly what conditions and restrictions apply, as well as what the consequences may be if the battery fails.

It is also worth bearing in mind the condition of the brakes: you should check the brake disks and pads for rust or other damage.

In addition, it is important to consider the condition of the battery: it directly affects the range and overall performance of the electric car. It is important to check how many charging cycles the battery has undergone and what its current capacity is compared to its rated capacity.

The capacity of the battery should not be forgotten, the expert added. The bigger it is, the farther the car can travel on a single charge.

Earlier, on December 17, experts "Auto.ru Evaluation" told "Izvestia" that in November 2024, the average cost of a car with mileage not older than 15 years in Russia amounted to 2.01 million rubles. This is 0.5% lower than in October and 12% less than at the beginning of the year. At the same time, the number of active ads for sale for 11 months increased by 57%.