MINSK, 5 May (BelTA) – Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko was made familiar with a number of Belarusian R&D products in the area of electric transport on 5 May. In particular, the head of state examined an experimental roadster – a two-seat electric convertible, BelTA has learned.
The designers believe this roadster will be able to challenge Tesla cars in the future. It is light and maneuverable. Classified as M1, it boasts improved performance characteristics. Its speed can go as high as 170kmph, with the cruising range of up to 270km without recharging.
The head of state also saw an electric ice resurfacer prototype. The president gave instructions to ship the vehicles to every ice arena in the country. As many as 25 ice resurfacers will be shipped initially. “We are ready to buy them but we need quality!” Aleksandr Lukashenko warned.
A new compact municipal vehicle model was also presented. The Minsk city administration had already demonstrated interest in the product. The head of state noted the product looked promising. “Let's keep it in mind,” he said.
The president was made familiar with R&D accomplishments in the area of production of accumulators, power cells, and charging stations for various purposes – ranging from powerful stationary ones to compact ones that can be used in the garage of a private household.
Belarusian scientists are now busy doing research work in the area of lithium-ion batteries, which are the world's popular choice, as well as graphene batteries, which are less effective than Li-ion batteries for now but do not require importing lithium that can be bought from China only. Besides, graphene batteries are cheaper. The scientists intend to secure comparable performance out of graphene batteries soon. “It will be a breakthrough,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
The head of state also examined prototypes of electric bicycles, electric scouters, and electric kick scooters. He wondered about their technical parameters, speed, and cruising range. He drew attention to the need to improve the styling of some models. Aleksandr Lukashenko agreed to take some samples for personal testing.
The products on display also included a number of unmanned aerial vehicles and aviation complexes. In particular, the R&D Center for Multifunctional Unmanned Complexes of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus (NASB) presented the drones Burevestnik and Busel. Aleksandr Lukashenko described them as good, effective, and yet affordable weapon systems. The head of state was informed about the development of a modern laser range finder, which is designed to improve the precision of drone strikes. The president demonstrated interest in the products on display and decided to visit the R&D center in the future.
The new products the head of state was made familiar with included the unmanned helicopter Eye Sky developed and made by OOO Unmanned Helicopters. The company says it is the world's first attack helicopter in this class and only eight countries develop unmanned helicopters that weigh over 100kg. Belarus is one of them. Belarus is the only ex-USSR country to make such drones commercially. Moreover, the company intends to make a 700kg unmanned helicopter by summer. Only the USA possesses a similar model.
