Russia has offered to cancel the taxes on electric cars

11 May 2018

But rejoice too early

In many countries, buyers of electric vehicles are significant benefits. It can be direct subsidies (like the US) or large tax breaks, paired with a range of additional bonuses (as in Norway). The goal in either case is the same — to encourage the purchase of electric cars as environmentally friendly transport. In Russia while this remains just a dream, although such proposals are periodically discussed. Now members of the liberal democratic party has proposed to exempt owners of electric vehicles from vehicle tax for five years. As reported TASS this bill has already been introduced in the State Duma.

a "the draft Strategy of development of automotive industry of the Russian Federation for the period up to 2025 electric vehicles in a separate Chapter, which States measures to support demand, aimed mainly at reducing the cost of ownership and increase ease of use of electric vehicles. As one of the possible measures envisaged benefits for the transportation tax, which certainly will contribute to the development of the electric car market in the country", — stated in the explanatory note to the draft.

If the law is adopted, owners of electric cars will be able to pay vehicle tax from 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2024. The project authors believe that these benefits will have a stimulative effect on the market of environmentally friendly cars.

However, to rejoice too early. First, the bill has yet to go through a lot of agencies, each of which can respond to failures. Secondly, practice shows that lawmakers are not too keen to support environmentally friendly transportation. No earlier than November 2017 the state Duma Committee on budget and taxes have not supported the same amendment to the Tax code. Then asked to cancel the transport tax for electric vehicles from 1 January 2018. Head of the Committee Andrei Makarov then noted that such amendments would "insufficient grounds".

While the government is restricted to measures of market support of electric vehicles. For example, in Moscow and St. Petersburg, their owners can use Parking for free, in addition, in the Moscow region cancelled the transport tax.