The gasoline collapse is rewriting the rules: Russians are massively switching to hybrids.

      Electric Vehicles: There is Potential, but Demand is Falling

      It is still too early to talk about a mass transition of Russians to electric transport. According to analysts, in 2025, sales of electric vehicles decreased by about a third compared to the previous year. By the beginning of 2026, the fleet of such cars in Russia reached about 80 thousand — this is only 0.2% of the total number of passenger cars.

      At the same time, the government program provides for achieving a 10% share of electric vehicles in the market by 2030. However, experts believe that it is necessary to simultaneously solve three tasks:

      develop battery and component production within the country;

      expand charging infrastructure;

      open specialized service centers.

      Price remains the main barrier. The expensive battery constitutes a significant part of the cost of an electric vehicle and currently does not allow it to compete with traditional cars. According to specialists, affordable batteries could significantly reduce the price gap.

      — Price is the biggest drawback of electric vehicles. An affordable battery is necessary — only then will the electric vehicle be comparable in price to a traditional car, — the karelinform.ru portal quotes experts.

      Infrastructure is the second problem. By the end of the first quarter of 2026, there were almost 10 thousand public charging stations in Russia, with just over half of them being fast chargers. For such a large country, this is catastrophically low.

      Electric vehicle owners feel most comfortable in Moscow, the Moscow region, and St. Petersburg: the capital and region account for about 1.3 and 1.35 thousand stations respectively, while St. Petersburg has over 400. The situation is quite different on intercity routes and in small towns. Given the vast distances and harsh climate, charging stations need to be placed approximately every 100 kilometers, which corresponds to the real range of an electric car in freezing temperatures.

      Service is the third limiting factor. An electric vehicle, like a regular car, requires regular maintenance. However, diagnosing a high-voltage battery requires special equipment and trained specialists. The high cost of the battery also increases repair costs and insurance premiums.

      As a result, experts expect that in the next couple of years, the share of pure electric vehicles in the Russian market will not exceed 3%.

      Hybrids Become the Main Beneficiary

      Hybrid cars now appear to be much more promising. The gasoline shortage, partly caused by attacks on oil refineries, and rising fuel prices have become additional incentives for choosing economical cars.

      Rechargeable hybrids (PHEVs) are particularly attractive. In urban mode, they can travel 100–150 kilometers on electric power, practically not using gasoline. At the same time, a hybrid with a gasoline generator alleviates one of the main fears of electric vehicle owners — the concern of running out of charge far from a station. In winter, this difference becomes even more noticeable: electric vehicles lose up to 40–50% of their range, while a hybrid simply switches to the internal combustion engine.

      — Russians have begun to become disillusioned with "pure" electric vehicles due to significant range loss in winter and charging problems in freezing temperatures, — experts confirm.

      Direct Benefits Are Not Obvious

      However, the economic benefit of hybrids is not always clear. Specialists provide an example: a regular gasoline crossover costs about 4.6 million rubles, while its hybrid version costs about 6 million rubles. The difference is 1.4 million rubles.

      The annual savings on fuel amount to about 80–120 thousand rubles. Thus, the direct payback through fuel savings can stretch over 10 years.

      Therefore, today’s buyer chooses a hybrid not so much for quick financial payback but for a combination of autonomy, power, fuel efficiency, and independence from the situation at gas stations.

      What Hybrids Do Russians Choose?

      Experts highlight several price niches.

      The affordable segment includes models priced at 3.2–3.8 million rubles. Among the advantages are comfort, spacious interiors, and low fuel consumption in the city.

      The mid-price segment includes cars priced at 5.5–6.2 million rubles. Here, the buyer receives an official warranty, adaptation to Russian conditions, a dealer network, and availability of spare parts. The power of such cars reaches about 400 hp.

      The premium segment includes hybrids priced at 7.5–10 million rubles. They combine a large interior, transformable space, air suspension, and a wide range of additional equipment.

      The Downside: Battery Degradation and Loss of Value

      Despite the growing interest, a hybrid cannot be called an unconditionally profitable purchase. One of the main risks is the high loss of residual value. According to experts, hybrids produced in 2023–2024 may have already lost up to 40–50% of their initial price.

      — Selling such a car after 3 years will be very difficult. Battery degradation in the Russian climate is very high. After 3–4 years of operation, the battery may lose from 30 to 40% of its capacity, — specialists warn. Thus, electric vehicles remain a niche product due to their high price, weak infrastructure, and service issues. Their market share is unlikely to exceed 3% in the coming years.

      Hybrids are a more practical choice: they save fuel, are not dependent on charging stations, and are comfortable to operate. However, the high initial price and rapid loss of residual value make them a risky investment.

      The main advice is to weigh all the pros and cons before purchasing: assess your actual mileage, the availability of charging stations and services in your region. For the Kirov region, where charging infrastructure is poorly developed, a hybrid today appears to be a more reasonable choice than a pure electric vehicle.