The government decided to launch an experiment with free travel on toll roads for owners of electric vehicles from March 1. This was reported by Kommersant.
It is specified that the experiment will last until the end of 2023, it will only apply to federal highways. In particular, owners of electric cars will be able to freely drive along M-1, M-3, M-4, M-11, M-12, the Central Ring Road, as well as along the M-11 section 15-58 km (operator – North-Western Concession company”) and bypass Odintsovo (operator – “New quality of roads”).
To get this opportunity, drivers need to buy for 3000-3500 rubles. or rent a contactless transponder from Avtodor. If you already have it, you just need to come to the support office of Avtodor – Toll Roads LLC and provide documents that confirm the installation of only an electric motor.
According to Deputy Chairman of the Board of Avtodor Konstantin Makiyev, if the owner of a transponder tied to an electric car tries to use it on another vehicle, then the full fare will be written off from him. The transponder itself will be disconnected from the action without the possibility of reconnection.
If the experiment is considered successful, the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Finance will prepare amendments to the Law on Highways, according to which owners of electric vehicles will be able to drive on all toll roads for free.
This measure will stimulate the interest of Russians in buying electric vehicles, said Dmitry Pronin, general director of the Moskvich plant. However, according to Maxim Kadakov, editor-in-chief of Za Rulem, this measure will not create additional demand for electric vehicles, since the difference in price between vehicles with an internal combustion engine (ICE) and an electric installation exceeds 20-30%. “And at current prices, taking into account the still undeveloped charging infrastructure, buying an electric car for an ordinary motorist is impractical,” he said.