The first Russian electric car: photos and specifications

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:42

The electric vehicle is one of the most promising and profitable development areas. The American experience shows that this area is in great demand. Well-known foreign companies have already managed to release more than one generation of electric vehicles, while Russian projects have failed one after another. But in recent years, several successful domestic startups have appeared, which will be discussed in this article.

What is an electric car

Humanity in the 21st century has come to a disappointing conclusion: resources in the form of oil are running out, carbon monoxide is polluting the planet. We need to look for a replacement for the usual car, and it became an electric car. Electric transport is already widespread in our country. Every day, thousands of our compatriots ride trolleybuses, trams and electric trains. In the most developed countries, the share of transportation by electric transport is 50%. Now it's the turn of the person altransport. Why is it so convenient to use electricity as a “fuel”?

The efficiency of electric transport is several times higher than that of an internal combustion engine, which requires a lot of fuel, but gives little in return. With an electric engine, the cost of extraction and production of fuel is reduced by several tens of times. This means that the cost of travel by this type of transport is also reduced. Electric vehicles are much simpler in design, less likely to require repair and replacement of parts.

Despite their many benefits, electric cars are rarely seen on the streets and roads. There are several reasons for this: the high price, the undeveloped structure of gas stations and the stereotypes in people's heads. Although this is the car of the future, few are able to join it yet.

The history of electric vehicles

The idea of creating an electric car originated in England back in 1799, where it was registered. But a lot of time passed from the idea to the creation of the first test copy - only in 1842 were working electric cars built that could transport people. After the invention of the lead-acid battery in 1859, the development of the electric car accelerated significantly, as the need to change the zinc plates each time dropped.

The first Russian car was invented by engineer Ippolit Romanov in 1889. Lightweight and looking like a small rocket, the car was certainly not designed for driving on the streets. The mass production car was launched in 1907. He enjoyedpopularity, as it was easy to operate and developed sufficient speed for those times.

Time passed, and electric vehicles improved every year. They reached the peak of their development in 2003, when Elon Musk founded his world-famous Tesla brand. Electric cars from Silicon Valley have become famous for being in no way inferior in performance to conventional cars. They easily accelerate to 200 km / h in a few seconds and can travel 300-400 km without recharging. Electric cars of the usual price category reach speeds of no more than 150 km / h and can travel only 100 km on a single charge.

Electric vehicles on the Russian market

Over the past decade, the Russian electrical industry has been actively developing, but for some reason did not receive the proper profit. Whether the matter is that financing of this area is still insufficient, or that imported cars are more willing to buy. One way or another, the law allowing electric vehicles to drive on Russian streets appeared only in 2011. Now they are starting to talk about additional benefits for drivers of electric cars: a dedicated lane and tax cuts. Among Russian-made electric vehicles, one can note Marussia and “e-mobile”, which were predicted to have a great future. But the dreams did not come true: amid economic instability, innovative startups fell apart.

Trying to master this niche and other manufacturers: in 2011, the Russian electric car appeared at the Lada concern. Cars replenished the taxi fleet inStavropol Territory, but the technology did not go further than the local miracle. What Russian developments of electric vehicles can be found now?

Sona electric car

Recently, in August of this year, Sona Motors introduced its new development: the Russian electric car Sona. This innovative project is currently under development and production is scheduled to begin in 2018. The search for investors gives a chance to realize the Russian dream of owning a powerful electric car, an analogue of Tesla. In total, 50 billion rubles are required to launch the project. The amount is considerable, and the prospects for electric cars are incomprehensible, and it’s not worth talking about the payback of such an investment. Therefore, "Sonya" has not yet found its patron.

Sona Motors plans not only to produce a Russian electric car, but also to enter the international market. The company's mission is to ensure the mobility of people without harm to the environment.

Zetta electric car

Domestic electric vehicles of 2017 include another development of another Russian company. The El Panda electric car was developed by the Russian company Zetta. The compact eco-mobile got its name because of the coloring: it is exactly like a panda. So far, the company is in the process of searching for an investor for mass production, but exhibition copies can be seen and tested right now. The appearance of the car resembles those small office cars that deliver luggage at airports. Square and weirdin form, not everyone liked El Panda. You could even say that this 2017 Russian electric car is the opposite of the faired sedans of foreign manufacturers. Whether he will be successful or not, time will tell.

Despite its compactness and strange design, the electric car has amazing performance for its category: 98 hp. With. allow you to reach 800nm of torque. And without additional charging, El Panda can travel about 200 km! But, unfortunately, the future of the El Panda electric car of the Russian company Zetta is vague - the project requires large investments.

Bravo electric car

There is another "baby" among electric vehicles - the Bravo electric car, developed by the Mordovian company Bravo Motors. The small cabin of the car only fits one person, and it looks more like an indoor golf cart than a full-fledged vehicle. Instead of the usual four wheels, it has only three supports: two in front and one in the back. But, despite such features, the electric car is capable of accelerating to 90 km/h.

An interesting feature of Bravo is the ability to "shrink". Its third wheel is pulled up to the front ones, raising the cabin with the driver. In the "unfolded" form, its length is 2.7 meters, and in the "compact" version it is only 1.8. The ideal vehicle for parking in the city! You can even drive a car in safe mode (when the speed does not exceed 10 km / h) using a gadget. By installing a special program, you can from afarwatch the electric car park. This electric car on the Russian market has no analogues yet. Light, agile and comfortable, it is of great interest to drivers. In addition, the safety of the machine is also all right. The seat belt and the option to equip with 3 airbags protect the driver in the event of an accident. At the moment, the price and future of the car have not yet been determined.

Car on electricity LADA Ellada

An electric car was also produced by one of the most famous automakers in Russia. LADA Ellada was made on the basis of the Lada-Kalina prototype. Large, roomy, it was conceived as a replacement for conventional gasoline cars. The cost of one car is quite democratic for its segment. For a copy of an electric car with a Greek name, they ask from 800 thousand to a million rubles.

"Lada-Ellada" has good dynamics and convenient equipment for everyday needs. A huge disadvantage is the limited battery life: on a full charge, you can drive only 20-30 kilometers. With the onset of frost, which is not uncommon in Russia, this figure becomes even smaller, because, as you know, in the cold, batteries lose their charge much faster. And recharging Ellada is not possible from every “filling” station, of which there are already dozens in Moscow. The usual connector is not suitable, and so far the owners have only one option - to charge the battery at home. For obvious reasons, this is a very long and costly method.

That is why Hellas remains unnoticed by modernmotorists, but still is the most convenient and affordable electric vehicle on the Russian market.

Advantages and disadvantages of an electric vehicle compared to a conventional one

The Russian electric car is an outlandish phenomenon, you rarely see it on the streets. Despite the incomparable advantages, ordinary people are in no hurry to buy it. Why, if there are gasoline cars that are cheaper and more familiar than electric ones? Does it make sense to develop this industry in the former CIS countries?

It's no secret that the ecological situation on the planet is deteriorating every year. Electric vehicles are capable, if not to stop this fact, then to significantly improve the environment in the territory of large cities, whose inhabitants are forced to breathe exhaust gases every day. Here the advantage is not on the side of gasoline engines. In addition, the design of electric vehicles is much simpler, which means that there is nothing special to break in it. The cost of maintenance will decrease, and the car itself will need less repair.

Electric vehicles on the Russian market in 2017 are the vehicle of the future. Fans of sophisticated technology will especially like additional functions: smart parking mode, control of dead zones, the presence of nearby pedestrians, etc. There is no point in competing with electric cars in terms of silence either: after all, the engine runs almost silently. But the main advantage for buyers is still the cheapness of cars.

Unfortunately, Russian electric cars have not yet justified the hopes of buyers for a reduction in costmovement. The area is only developing, and worthy products that could be mass-produced simply do not exist yet. It's easier for people to buy a brand new 4x4 Jeep than to spend twice as much money on an uncomfortable and incomprehensible vehicle.

The electric car charging network is practically not developed, so their owners need to carefully plan the route before each trip so as not to get into a mess. Limited battery charge is another significant disadvantage. The charging time of the battery from the household power supply is often about 8-10 hours. And this means that you will always be tied to the amount of charge on the batteries. Will developers fix these problems in the future or not? Most likely, yes, which is why it makes sense to talk about the future of Russian electric cars.

Prospects for the Russian electric car

Will the Russian electric car market develop or not? Using the example of existing attempts to launch a serial Russian electric car for sale, one can understand that these companies require huge amounts of investment. In a crisis, few people can afford to invest in innovative developments that do not guarantee income. And existing models are inconvenient and impractical.

The main stopper in the development of the electric car market is the availability of duties for individuals. The cost of an electric car because of them increases significantly, and the purchase generally loses its meaning. Electric cars also have some benefits: you can park in Moscow for free, but thisstill an insignificant trifle compared with the minuses of such production. Most drivers move not only within the city, but also outside it, and electric vehicles are not designed for long distances.

Another "stopper" is the lack of modern domestic developments in this area. The same "Lada-Ellada" is completely made of Western parts, the only exception is the body itself. However, if a universal model enters the market that will satisfy the needs of buyers, and the cost of such cars decreases, the situation will change radically. People will understand the benefits of electric vehicles and start using them.

Who are these cars for

Russian-made electric vehicles have a rather narrow target audience. They are designed exclusively for residents of large cities who travel short distances and have free access to high voltage electricity networks. In the same village, it is not possible to charge such a car, and it’s scary: suddenly the battery will sit down in a forest or a wilderness. But it is very convenient to move around the city. Special parking systems and compact dimensions allow you to park even in the very center.

Other famous electric cars

While Russian electric cars are just getting started, many Western models have long been popular all over the world. The most famous of them is the Tesla company, which was a pioneer in this field. Tesla Model Scustomers liked the representative appearance and the largest power reserve in the segment. Such an electric car can travel 400-500 km without recharging! In addition, in terms of dynamics, Tesla is in no way inferior to its gasoline brothers.

A more budget-friendly model is the Nissan Leaf, which has long been a top-selling electric vehicle. Compact and cute, it can travel about 180 km. A huge plus of buying an electric car is the perks and benefits that citizens get when using electric motors instead of gasoline ones. Therefore, the maintenance of such a machine is much cheaper.

And the last world-famous electric car worth mentioning is the Mitsubishi Outlander hybrid. The replica in the electric version appealed to many motorists. At first glance, this is still the same roomy SUV, only under the hood there is an internal combustion engine along with an electric one. The success of this model lies in the power (121 HP) and versatility.