UVZ, Russian Highways join forces to develop EV charging network

YEKATERINBURG. July 9 (Interfax) - Uralvagonzavod (UVZ), a division of state corporation Rostec, and state company Russian Highways (Avtodor) have agreed to work together on developing a network of electric vehicle charging stations.

The cooperation agreement was signed by UVZ deputy CEO for civilian products Andrei Abakumov and Avtodor deputy CEO for operations and development of user services Konstantin Makiyev at the Innoprom international industrial exhibition in Yekaterinburg on Monday, UVZ said.

"The parties intend to cooperate on providing Russia's existing and future transport corridors with modern automobile charging stations," the company said.

UVZ also signed a number of cooperation agreements at Innoprom on providing support for generating demand for EV charging stations. New charging stations will be installed in Chelyabinsk and the surrounding region and in Yekaterinburg.

"The government leaders of Vladimir and Omsk regions expressed interest in developing networks of charging stations in their regions. Agreements on cooperation in the development of charging infrastructure will also be signed with these regions in the course of the exhibition," UVZ said.

UVZ presented a model of a fast charging station for EVs at Innoprom-2024 that was developed by the group's Chelyabinsk-based subsidiary JSC NPO Elektromashina, which has built prototypes of fast charging stations with capacity of 150 kW. UVZ said there are no charging stations with such capacity in Russia. They can charge a vehicle battery 80% in 20 minutes.

Chelyabinsk Region is included in the pilot region for developing a network of charging stations.