Belarus PM urges to set deadline for domestic e-vehicle project

MINSK, 25 January (BelTA) - It is necessary to determine a possible deadline for the development of a domestic electric passenger vehicle, Belarusian Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko said at a meeting to review the comprehensive program for the development of electric transport up to 2025 at BKM Holding on 25 January, BelTA has learned.

“Today we are set to review the progress of the comprehensive program for the development of electric transport between 2021 and 2025. Two years of the program have already passed, and the third one has already begun. In general, the program activities are implemented in accordance with the schedule, there are no visible problems,” said Roman Golovchenko.

One of the key issues to be discussed at today's meeting is the prospects and realistic deadlines for the development of a domestic electric passenger vehicle. “Such a task has been set by the president of the country. A lot of preliminary work has been done in this area already. It would be great however to finally decide on the form of an electric vehicle. Significant results have been achieved in cargo and passenger electric vehicles. We have prototypes, some of which are in pilot operation. A lot of research has been done on electric cars, and a significant number of power plant elements, electrical equipment, and traction devices have been developed. We need to put it all together and come up with conceptual decisions on further work towards the development of our own electric vehicle,” the prime minister stressed.

According to him, the issues that are on the agenda of the meeting will be considered by blocks: what science and industry have done so far, what is the progress in the development of the charging infrastructure. “The named blocks are a single complex. Without a close link the individual elements will not give the necessary effect for the country. Therefore, I suggest considering the issue through this prism,” the head of government said. “The Industry Ministry, as the responsible customer of the program, has been defined as the state body responsible for the coordination of all elements of the program.”