Authorities and businesses are discussing the idea of introducing quotas for electric vehicles for taxis. The idea is that when updating car fleets, at least 5% of cars should be electric - and preferably Russian-made.
The initiative comes from the Association of Charging Infrastructure Operators. According to their calculations, such a measure could give the market up to 4,000 additional electric vehicle sales per year. Currently, there are about 80,000 electric vehicles in Russia, but their share in taxis remains minimal - about seven thousand out of almost 800,000 cars with internal combustion engines.
The first discussion of the idea is scheduled for the end of March with the participation of regulators, manufacturers and industry representatives.
However, the market reacted ambiguously. Some players believe that a quota without government support is too harsh a measure. Electric vehicles are still more expensive than conventional cars, and the infrastructure - especially in the regions - remains weak: there are not enough charging stations, services and specialists.
In addition, taxi companies themselves are now operating in an environment of rising costs and declining profitability. The introduction of mandatory standards can only increase the pressure on business.
At the same time, supporters of the initiative are confident that without such measures, the market will not move. Electric cars are already available, charging stations are being built, but demand remains low - primarily due to economics.
That is why the main question now is not "whether it is necessary", but "at whose expense". Without subsidies and benefits, even a quota of 5% may be too heavy for the industry.