Foreign electric vehicle owners may regain the ability to travel toll roads for free

Operators of charging stations for electric vehicles (EVCS) have proposed to restore benefits for free travel on toll federal highways for owners of all electric vehicles, and not only for cars of Russian production. The corresponding letter was sent by the Association of Manufacturers and Operators of Electric Charging Stations (APOE) to the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Economy.

Maintaining the benefit in a limited format will slow down the installation of new EVCS on toll highways and reduce the return on investment in already installed stations. This may also reduce the demand for Russian charging products focused on installation on highways, such as charging hubs and EVCS with a capacity of more than 200 kW.

Free travel on toll roads for electric vehicle drivers was introduced on March 1, 2023 and applied to Avtodor highways, including M-1 Belarus, M-3 Ukraine, M-4 Don, M-11 Neva, M-12 Vostok and the Central Ring Road (TsKAD). Initially, the benefit applied to all electric vehicles, regardless of the country of manufacture. However, from 2025, the benefit was limited only to locally assembled electric vehicles, such as Evolute, electric Moskvich, Gazelle e-NN, Lada e-Largus and other models.

The Association emphasizes the importance of restoring benefits for all electric vehicles in order to support infrastructure development and increase the attractiveness of electric vehicles in Russia.

Read materials on the topic:

New Year — new prices: Avtodor has increased the toll on the M-11 highway

Russia aims for a sharp increase in the production of electric vehicles and hybrids by 2030

Fines for the absence of a special sign for slow-moving vehicles are proposed to be increased in Russia