Green is coming into fashion

Comfort, safety, and long-term warranty: production of electric vehicles has been launched in Belarus 

The construction of the Belarusian nuclear power plant has spurred the development of a number of industries. Peaceful nuclear energy not only guarantees energy sovereignty and stability of the power system but also provides significant competitive advantages across industry, science, medicine, education, and agriculture. Additionally, the launch of a domestically produced nuclear power plant has led to a rapid growth in electric transport. Currently, the number of electric vehicles in the country approaches 30,000, with over 1,500 charging stations available for them. The trend is set by Chinese automakers. Belarus has now joined the list of countries manufacturing passenger electric cars. Our correspondent not only visited the manufacturer but also personally tested the new model.

New Geely EX5 electric vehicle made in Belarus  

Economical and environmentally friendly

To begin with, it is worth noting that electric vehicles have already become an integral part of everyday life in Belarus, positively impacting the country’s economy. At the same time, both ecological and economic goals are being addressed. The use of fossil fuels is decreasing, new capacities are being added to the energy sector, and a new industry is emerging. In 2020, only 80 electric cars were registered on the roads of the country, but today, their number has grown to nearly 30,000. Just last year, the increase was 14,200 units, which is 2.7 times higher than the figure for 2023.
“There are reasons to believe that by 2030, around 250,000 to 300,000 electric vehicles will be registered in our country,” assured Yuri Ivanov, Head of Basic Industries Department at Belarus’ Economy Ministry. “In accordance with the instructions of the Head of State and the Government, the country has created the most favourable conditions to increase the number of electric vehicles.” 
To facilitate comfortable charging, Belarus is developing a network of petrol stations. “At the beginning of 2024, one charging station served 8.8 electric cars, but over the year, this ratio has effectively doubled to 16.8. In this respect, our country is on par with leading nations and ranks among the top 15 countries worldwide,” noted the representative from the Economy Ministry.

Welcome to the club

The demand for electric vehicles among Belarusians is mainly satisfied by Chinese and American manufacturers. As the market capacity and the purchasing power of our citizens grow each year, it was only a matter of time for Belarus — a country producing passenger cars — to start manufacturing electric vehicles. And that day has arrived.
“We have begun producing electric cars,” BelGee Director General Gennady Svidersky announced with pride. The first electric vehicle assembled domestically is the new Geely EX5 model, which now bears a Belarusian VIN code. Currently, it is semi knocked down (SKD) assembly. “The car is fully certified in Belarus, and we offer a long-term warranty — six years,” emphasised Gennady Svidersky. “We expect that within a year, the vehicle will be put on the conveyor where completely knocked down (CKD) assembly will be applied. To date, 169 electric cars have been produced. They have been handed over to the dealer network.” 

 

BelGee plant, Minsk Region, Borisov District. Production of Geely EX5 cars

Technically and technologically

Here is some information about the technical specifications of the new model. Geely EX5 is a compact crossover approximately 4.6 metres long. It features a 218-horsepower engine that provides dynamic and confident driving even with a full load. Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h takes only 6.9 seconds. The maximum speed is 175 km/h. The heart of Geely EX5 is a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) traction battery with a capacity of 60.2 kWh. Its main advantage is the ability to provide a driving range of up to 430 km on a full charge (WLTP cycle). In simple terms, you could travel from any point in Belarus across the country on a single charge.  
Externally, the car resembles the second-generation Atlas running on petrol. However, its internal parts are simply out of this world. The vehicle contains all the technical innovations typical of electric vehicles: driver assistance systems (DAS), signalling, navigation — all fully Russified. In short, it is an ideal option for city driving and trips to the countryside.  
It is claimed that the overall resource of the battery exceeds one million km run, or 3,500 charge cycles. In addition, the general warranty for the car is six years or 150,000 km, with a separate battery warranty of eight years or 150,000 km, and a three-year or 60,000 km paintwork warranty.   
Geely EX5 is available in two trim levels: Pro and Max. The first model costs Br73,900, and the Max version is priced at Br79,900. 

Subtleties of production 

It is often said that seeing is believing. Therefore, we decided to see firsthand how electric cars are manufactured at the plant near Borisov. We met with the chief technologist at BelGee JSC, Sergei Tradchik, at the CKD assembly line. “The first batch of electric vehicles was produced via SKD assembly,” he noted. “They hit the market in China only last October. At that time, a decision was made to assemble them here [in Belarus] as well. So just three weeks ago, we assembled an electric vehicle with a Belarusian VIN code. Currently, we are at the CKD assembly line. In the future, we plan to assemble the EX5 model exactly here.”
“Of course, at the initial stage, we produce all vehicles using Chinese components. After a while, we begin localisation, starting with the simplest parts, which are already produced in our country or Russia. This process is not quick, as it involves certification and testing. Every element in the car must be reliable and high-quality to ensure overall vehicle quality. Essentially, the electric car is like a regular vehicle with an internal combustion engine — except for one special feature: the battery. It is quite large and heavy weighing about 450 kg. Subsequently, additional equipment is needed for its installation. All of this will be developed, purchased, and implemented,” added the chief technologist.  
Sergei Tradchik, the chief technologist at BelGee, has already appreciated the advantages of the electric vehicle assembled in Belarus and shared his impressions, “I believe it is a very well-balanced car in terms of price and quality. What I particularly like is the battery. It uses a safe chemistry — lithium iron phosphate cells, which won’t catch fire or explode in case of an accident. I think this vehicle will be in demand in Belarus. Everything is balanced in it: functionality, design, and price. I believe we will successfully fill a niche with it.” 

Personal experience

I must admit that until that day, I had no experience of driving an electric vehicle. I was doubly pleased that my first contact with the world of electric motors took place behind the wheel of a domestically assembled car. I was impressed by the simplicity of operation and comfort. And especially by the dynamics. On the BelGee test site, the car accelerated in gentle mode to 100 km/h in less than seven seconds. For a crossover, that is quite an impressive feat.  
Inside, minimalism reigns, which is peculiar to Chinese automakers. Immediately behind the steering wheel, there is a display functioning as an instrument panel. It shows speed, road conditions, and other useful information. However, to be objective, thanks to the good projection, it is rarely necessary to look directly at the instrument display. The rest of the functionality is similar to that of a classic electric car and accessible via a large 15.4-inch touchscreen. The interior finishing materials are pleasant to touch, with almost no glossy surfaces.  
Driving this new model is as comfortable as possible. The front seats are equipped with massage, heating, and ventilation functions. The manufacturer has also taken care of rear-passenger comfort — not only with heated seats but also with plenty of space. I was also pleased with the spaciousness of the boot. The main luggage compartment volume is 461 litres, which increases to 1,877 litres when the second-row seats are folded down. In summary, I am genuinely impressed and pleasantly surprised.

By Vladislav Sychevich

Photos by Yegor Yermalitsky