Technical Problems of Electric Vehicles: Experience of Russian Owners

Technical problems of electric cars in 2025 remain an important topic for Russian owners. The number of electric cars in Russia has grown to 59.6 thousand, but operation in the harsh climate reveals difficulties. The main complaints are about batteries, charging and electronics. I will examine the experience of electric car owners, based on data from Avtostat and surveys. We will look at what drivers are facing and how this affects the market.

Problems of electric cars Russia: batteries and climate

Batteries are the weak point of electric cars in Russia. In winter, the range drops by 30-40% due to low temperatures. The owner of Zeekr 001 from Novosibirsk noted that at -30°C the battery discharges faster, and warming up the interior eats up the charge. According to Avtostat, Tesla batteries lose 1% of capacity per 10,000 kilometres during quiet driving, but degradation accelerates in cold weather. The technical problems of electric cars are aggravated by the lack of local production of batteries, which makes repairs difficult.

Charging: operation of electric vehicles Russia

Charging infrastructure is another challenge. There are 10 electric cars per station, and queues for charging are not uncommon. A survey of 700 owners in 2024 shows: 27% complain about the lack of stations, 18% complain about long charging times. The owner of Evolute i-PRO from Moscow said that in winter, charging from 20% to 80% takes 1.5 hours instead of 40 minutes. The situation is worse in the regions: in Siberia, despite the growth in the number of electric cars to 13.5% of the national fleet, there are few stations.

Troubleshooting electric vehicles 2025: electronics

Electronics often fails in Russian conditions. The owner of Volkswagen ID.4 complained about multimedia failures: the system freezes at temperatures below -20°C. User X noted problems with "Moskvich 3e": the emergency braking system triggers for no reason. Also in 2025 recalled 17 thousand electric cars due to the risk of fire and fuel leakage in hybrids. Technical problems of electric cars, such as glitches, reduce confidence in new models.

Limitations: technical difficulties of electric cars

Electric cars are not well suited for long journeys. Atom has a range of 500 kilometres, but in real conditions it is less. The owner of a Nissan Leaf from Irkutsk noted that in winter the mileage is reduced to 200 km. Also, the high cost of battery replacement (up to 25% of the price of the car) scares off buyers. For you, with auto and yachting experience, this is important: reliability and autonomy are critically low for long routes.

Perspectives: the experience of electric vehicle owners

Despite the challenges, the market is growing. In 2024, sales of new electric vehicles reached 18,217 units, an increase of 27%. New products such as AVATR 11 are adapted for Russia, but without infrastructure development, problems will persist. Owners advise choosing proven brands such as Zeekr or Moskvich.

Conclusion: What to consider when buying

The technical problems of electric cars in Russia are batteries, charging and electronics. The experience of electric car owners shows: winter operation is difficult and the infrastructure is lagging behind. If you are thinking of buying one, choose models with good service and do a test drive in winter.