HSE Experts Highlight Factors Influencing EV Market Growth
According to estimates from HSE University, Moscow leads in the number of charging stations for electric vehicles in Russia, while Nizhny Novgorod ranks first in terms of charging station coverage, with 11.23 electric vehicles per charging station, compared to 14.41 in Moscow. The lack of charging infrastructure is one of the key factors limiting the growth of the electric vehicle market. This is stated in the study titled ‘Socio-Economic Aspects of Introducing Electric Vehicles in Commercial Transportation’ conducted by experts from the Institute of Transport Economics and Transport Policy Studies at HSE University.
The use of electric vehicles (EVs) significantly reduces fuel and maintenance costs, while also offering incentives for owners, making electric transport economically viable. The main challenges holding back the growth in the number of EVs include limited driving range, rapid battery degradation, substantial initial investments, and rising operating costs. According to experts at HSE University, further promotion of EV use requires support measures such as localising production, offering incentives for purchasing EVs, increasing the number of charging stations, and implementing flexible electricity tariffs.
By the end of 2024, 59,600 electric vehicles were registered in Russia, marking a 225% increase in their number since 2015. According to experts, the growth in electric car sales in Russia in 2024 was primarily driven by Chinese manufacturers and the Moskvich Moscow Automobile Plant.
At the same time, imports of new and used electric vehicles declined by 34% and 22%, respectively, between 2022 and 2023, while large-scale localisation of new models remains constrained by strict regulations.
Experts at HSE University warn that a further reduction in government support and tighter import restrictions could slow the growth of the EV market.
Infrastructure and Regional Factors
According to experts, expanding the charging infrastructure network remains a major factor in the widespread adoption of electric vehicles. Currently, Moscow has the largest number of charging stations in the country, but Nizhny Novgorod ranks first in terms of charging stations relative to the number of electric vehicles. By 2030, the number of stations in Moscow is expected to reach 12,000, with the electric vehicle fleet growing to 300,000.
At the same time, electric vehicles remain a practical mode of transport mainly for large cities and metropolitan areas that actively support their adoption and invest in expanding the infrastructure network. According to estimates, the total cost of owning an electric vehicle may be lower than that of a conventional one, but in practice, much depends on operating conditions, battery degradation rates, and the availability and scope of government support—for example, the costs of adopting electric vehicles remain significant for commercial companies.
Director, Centre for Transportation Planning, Institute for Transport Economics and Transport Policy Studies
'According to current national policy documents, within ten years, the EU, the UK, Israel, and 25% of US states are expected to ensure that 100% of vehicle sales are zero-emission, while Japan and Singapore aim to achieve 100% electric vehicle sales. However, rapid growth in this segment driven solely by battery electric vehicles (BEVs) may face an alternative path: in countries where internal combustion vehicles remain widespread, the transition is likely to occur through increased adoption of hybrid vehicles, which are classified as EVs based on certain operating parameters but still retain the ability to use fossil fuels.'
See also:
HSE University Scholars Uncover E-Learning Preferences of Top Students
HSE University experts have analysed students’ digital footprints and shown for the first time that final grades depend on one’s personal approach to an online course. Balanced students have proven to be more successful than those who follow a more traditional and practical approach. The findings from this study will help create a more adaptive and personalised educational system. This research has been published in the journal The Internet and Higher Education.
HSE Scientists Develop Method to Stabilise Iodine in Solar Cells
Scientists at HSE MIEM, in collaboration with colleagues from China, have developed a method to improve the durability of perovskite solar cells by addressing iodine loss from the material. The researchers introduced quaternary ammonium molecules into the perovskite structure; these molecules form strong electrostatic pairs with iodine ions, effectively anchoring them within the crystal lattice. As a result, the solar cells retain more than 92% of their power after a thousand hours of operation at 85°C. The study has been published in Advanced Energy Materials.
HSE Researchers Create Genome-Wide Map of Quadruplexes
An international team, including researchers from HSE University, has created the first comprehensive map of quadruplexes—unstable DNA structures involved in gene regulation. For the first time, scientists have shown that these structures function in pairs: one is located in a DNA region that initiates gene transcription, while the other lies in a nearby region that enhances this process. In healthy tissues, quadruplexes regulate tissue-specific genes, whereas in cancerous tissues they influence genes responsible for cell growth and division. These findings may contribute to the development of new anticancer drugs that target quadruplexes. The study has been published in Nucleic Acids Research.
Mathematician from HSE University–Nizhny Novgorod Solves Equation Considered Unsolvable in Quadratures Since 19th Century
Mathematician Ivan Remizov from HSE University–Nizhny Novgorod and the Institute for Information Transmission Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences has made a conceptual breakthrough in the theory of differential equations. He has derived a universal formula for solving problems that had been considered unsolvable in quadratures for more than 190 years. This result fundamentally reshapes one of the oldest areas of mathematics and has potential to have important implications for fundamental physics and economics. The paper has been published in Vladikavkaz Mathematical Journal.
Scientists Reveal How Language Supports Complex Cognitive Processing in the Brain
Valeria Vinogradova, a researcher at HSE University, together with British colleagues, studied how language proficiency affects cognitive processing in deaf adults. The study showed that higher language proficiency—regardless of whether the language is signed or spoken—is associated with higher activity and stronger functional connectivity within the brain network responsible for cognitive task performance. The findings have been published in Cerebral Cortex.
HSE AI Research Centre Simplifies Particle Physics Experiments
Scientists at the HSE AI Research Centre have developed a novel approach to determining robustness in deep learning models. Their method works eight times faster than an exhaustive model search and significantly reduces the need for manual verification. It can be applied to particle physics problems using neural networks of various architectures. The study has been published in IEEE Access.
Scientists Show That Peer Influence Can Be as Effective as Expert Advice
Eating habits can be shaped not only by the authority of medical experts but also through ordinary conversations among friends. Researchers at HSE University have shown that advice from peers to reduce sugar consumption is just as effective as advice from experts. The study's findings have been published in Frontiers in Nutrition.
HSE University Develops Tool for Assessing Text Complexity in Low-Resource Languages
Researchers at the HSE Centre for Language and Brain have developed a tool for assessing text complexity in low-resource languages. The first version supports several of Russia’s minority languages, including Adyghe, Bashkir, Buryat, Tatar, Ossetian, and Udmurt. This is the first tool of its kind designed specifically for these languages, taking into account their unique morphological and lexical features.
HSE Scientists Uncover How Authoritativeness Shapes Trust
Researchers at the HSE Institute for Cognitive Neuroscience have studied how the brain responds to audio deepfakes—realistic fake speech recordings created using AI. The study shows that people tend to trust the current opinion of an authoritative speaker even when new statements contradict the speaker’s previous position. This effect also occurs when the statement conflicts with the listener’s internal attitudes. The research has been published in the journal NeuroImage.
Language Mapping in the Operating Room: HSE Neurolinguists Assist Surgeons in Complex Brain Surgery
Researchers from the HSE Center for Language and Brain took part in brain surgery on a patient who had been seriously wounded in the SMO. A shell fragment approximately five centimetres long entered through the eye socket, penetrated the cranial cavity, and became lodged in the brain, piercing the temporal lobe responsible for language. Surgeons at the Burdenko Main Military Clinical Hospital removed the foreign object while the patient remained conscious. During the operation, neurolinguists conducted language tests to ensure that language function was preserved.