Russian demand for home EV chargers doubles as city networks struggle

Russia has seen a sharp surge in sales of electric vehicles and hybrids over the past few months, but the charging infrastructure was not ready for such rapid growth. Even in Moscow, where the public charging network is the most developed in the country, users face connectivity restrictions that make using charging stations difficult or outright impossible.

As a result, Russians are increasingly buying personal charging stations to install at their country houses and dachas. According to statistics from the Association of Manufacturers and Operators of Electric Charging Stations (APOES), cited by Izvestia, demand for private EV chargers has doubled. Meanwhile, public charging stations have seen their customer base grow by 15–20%.

Industry observers point out that even amid volatile fuel prices, fully electric vehicles remain more of a luxury toy than a practical mode of transport. A buyer can comfortably own such a car only if they live in a private home with a dedicated outlet and have a second vehicle in the household as a backup. In urban environments, unless one resides in an upscale residential complex with an underground parking garage and a private charger, owning an EV brings a host of headaches and constant stress. This situation is unlikely to change until a major breakthrough in battery technology occurs.