The Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) has approved tax-free imports of fully electric vehicles in Russia, which will make purchasing EVs in the country approximately 15% cheaper, according to a report by RT. EEC is the body responsible for implementing decisions taken by the members of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) which includes Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.
Duty exemption for EVs has began in February 2014, but it expired earlier this year and was not extended. The report says that the new amendment will come into effect next month, and shall last until the end of August 2017. The exemption does not apply to partially electric vehicles such as hybrids or plug-in hybrids, though customs duties on electric trucks weighing less than five tonnes have been reduced to five percent from 15%.
“Scaling down the duties aims to encourage the use of eco-friendly transport within the boundaries of the Eurasian Economic Union and provide a background for developing the e-vehicle market,” said the EEC Trade Minister Veronika Nikishina. While only 647 electric vehicles in total have been registered in Russia according to Autostat figures, that sum is set to grow as the corresponding price reduction from the tax removal should entice more users to adopt EVs.
Here in Malaysia, the most recent presence of EVs is represented by GreenTech Malaysia, which aims to eventually run a fleet of the Tesla Model S operational in its leasing programme.
GreenTech also stated big plans for its ChargEV charger network – last September it targeted 300 EV charging stations across Malaysia in 2016, as part of a greater plan to deploy as many as 25,000 by the year 2020. It also hopes to put 100,000 EVs, 2,000 electric buses and 100,000 electric scooters/motorcycles on Malaysian roads by 2020.
Electric vehicles available through official channels here in Malaysia include the Nissan Leaf (RM180k), Renault Twizy (RM87k) and Zoe (RM146k). The Mitsubishi i-MiEV was also sold here previously. In terms of hybrid vehicles in Malaysia, locally-assembled models qualify for full duty exemptions, such as the Volvo XC90 T8, BMW X5 xDrive40e, Mercedes-Benz S 400h and Toyota Camry Hybrid.
Read our drive impression of the Tesla Model S, here.
GALLERY: Tesla Model S in Malaysia
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… then impose entry restriction if it dun have Putin name on it. Back to square 1.
Boleh ministeering mai do opposite way… lorry buses welcome to be smoke octopus on the road; while duty tax max. to hybrid ev as punishment for choose green. Oh sohai boleh developed country.
encik trade minister, rmb you said you want to reach 100,000 EV on the road by 2020? maybe you can start wif this
How? By putting Putin stronk picture on the car badge?
Whats with u and putin??!
OMG! Even the Russian know the trick to promote electric car. And they are the biggest oil producer on the planet.