"Slow" stations and a new regulatory framework are necessary: Electric transport development discussed at the Exposition

The RUSSIA EXPO hosted an open discussion on the development of electric transport and related infrastructure. The participants reviewed the results already achieved in the creation of electric refueling station networks in Siberia's regions, studied a number of successful cases and outlined the ways of further growth of the industry for the future.

Eduard Sheremetsev, Deputy Minister of Energy of the Russian Federation, noted that the conversion of the transportation system to electric power supply is a global process, and it is important for Russia to keep up with this trend. Not only because electric transport is more environmentally friendly and cost-effective in operation, but also because the development of this sphere is a powerful stimulus for the intensification of scientific research in a number of areas, including ways to conserve electricity.

As the deputy minister emphasized, two main types of subsidies aimed at supporting the development of electric transport infrastructure are already in place at the federal level. As a result of their application, it was possible to significantly increase the pace of installation of new electric charging stations - thus, in 2022, about 400 of them were placed across the country.

"There is a subsidy for the production of equipment for such stations, it is issued by the Ministry of Industry and Trade. While subsidies for the installation of stations are issued by the Ministry of Energy. And a company that comes to the region and is ready to invest in such projects receives financial support from the government. But the assistance does not stop there, we also help in connecting to local grids and in designing specific facilities. Now you can apply for such subsidies in 2025," said Eduard Sheremetsev.

Andrei Vitkovsky, Director of Electric Transport Development at Siberian Generating Company, spoke about the results of a study of the transportation system of Siberian cities and its impact on local ecology. The study showed that there are two types of transport, which conversion to electric motors will give the most significant results in terms of reducing emissions of harmful substances. Firstly, it is the personal motor transport of citizens, simply because of its large number. And, secondly, urban public transport. Today Siberian Generating Company is implementing its own project, which should help improve the situation in both directions.

"Two years ago, we entered the market of charging stations in Krasnoyarsk, we immediately chose the model of placing stations in the yards of apartment buildings. At that time, this was a fundamentally new model, because until then, so called "fast" charging stations were mainly installed - in shopping centers and other popular places. But we realize that there are not enough such stations for everyone, and the main basis of the infrastructure should be precisely in-home stations. In 2023, we started installing them in Novosibirsk, and this year we plan to expand to Kuzbass, Altai and Khakassia," said Andrei Vitkovsky.

Local authorities are also well aware of the inevitability of the rapid growth of electric transport and the importance of preparing the city infrastructure for this process. In particular, Artem Skatov, Vice Mayor of Novosibirsk, who spoke at the meeting, predicted a more than 54-fold increase in the number of electric vehicles in the city by 2030 - from 550 units to 30 thousand. To meet the needs of the growing fleet of electric vehicles, Novosibirsk will need to build about 700 "slow" charging stations and about 250 "fast" power points by this date. This work is already underway in cooperation with investors, but the current regulatory framework needs to be updated to boost it.

"It is necessary to introduce urban planning standards. There is a public demand, and some developers are starting to provide new residential buildings with the necessary connection points or even charging stations on their own initiative. But they do it as a commercial offer and a way to increase the competitiveness of their products, and the state does not set any systemic tasks in this area. Our city Department of Construction is ready to introduce regulations, but there is still no certainty about how to shape this regulatory framework - whether to take into account the allocated capacity, or the number of places for charging, or the number of stations themselves. Here we need advice from industry experts and the professional community," urged Artem Skatov.

The discussion also included speeches by Evgeny Burnaev, Head of the Center for Applied Artificial Intelligence at the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Ivan Ivanov, Director of EVCS network development at Sitronics, Valery Potashnikov, General Director of TEEMP-Holding, and Vladimir Khlebnikov, Deputy General Director of Parus Electro LLC. The meeting was moderated by Alexei Parshikov, Head of Charging Infrastructure Development at Rosseti Group.