Electric buses in Voronezh halted by extreme cold
Voronezh's electric bus pilot project has ended after the buses could not handle severe winter cold, with batteries losing charge rapidly below -20°C (-4°F).
Apr 22, 2026 0
Conventional buses replaced electric vehicles on the affected routes during the cold snap.
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In Voronezh, experimental electric buses did not run on routes during severe frosts. This was reported to Voronezh1.ru by the regional Ministry of Transport.
This decision is linked to the sharp decrease in battery efficiency in extremely low temperatures. Moreover, the department officially confirmed that the pilot project for testing this type of transport will not be extended.
According to the transport ministry«s comment, in frosts below -20°C (-4°F), the batteries of electric buses start to lose charge many times faster, and their recharging time increases significantly. »All this negatively affects the operability of the transport,« explained specialists. On February 2, when severe frosts hit the region, all three vehicles remained in the depot.
The department assured that passengers of routes No. 23, 24, and 83, on which the electric buses operated, will not be left without transport. Regular large-class buses took to the routes: 10 units each on routes 23 and 24, and 5 vehicles on route 83.
The project for operating electric buses in Voronezh was of a test nature. Its goal, as explained by the ministry, was to evaluate the technical and operational characteristics of electric-powered transport compared to traditional diesel and gas buses. The experiment«s timeframe has come to an end, and it will not be extended.
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