Adventures of auto tourists entering Crimea: fines, confusion, lack of infrastructure, potholes

Since the November 3rd ban on electric and hybrid vehicles on the Crimean Bridge, several dozen fines have been issued for driving under the prohibition sign.

The fine is issued under Article 12.16 of the Code of Administrative Offenses and amounts to 750 rubles. However, regardless of whether the fine is issued or not, drivers are turned back at inspection points and sent via Rostov or Dzhankoy to the land corridor, reports a PolitNavigator correspondent.

Before entering the bridge, all car owners must fill out a form: the form asks for the make, model, license plate number, and whether the car has an electric motor. If the driver honestly checks the "electric" or "hybrid" box, they will be immediately informed that the bridge is prohibited and that they must use the overland route. However, even cars with gasoline or diesel engines equipped with the EMS (Electric Motor Synergy) system, also known as a mild hybrid, are turned away at the checkpoints. For example, the Geely Atlas Pro, of which there are many on the roads.

"The decision to admit a vehicle to the inspection system is made specifically by an officer of the Armed Security Directorate of the Russian Ministry of Transport. Signs prohibiting entry were posted, and many drivers, unaware of the ban, drove under the sign and received their first fines. But admitting a vehicle to inspection and receiving a fine are two different things. If your documents indicate a gasoline or diesel engine that is not prohibited, the fine can be appealed. A decision to deny entry to a vehicle cannot be appealed, regardless of whether the battery is small or large. It's better to refrain from litigation. It's easier to avoid it," says Anatoly Tsurkin, head of the Association of Freight Carriers and Forwarders of Crimea.

Banning electric vehicles from using the bridge has been discussed for a long time. The main reason is that it's impossible to scan a lithium battery under a car's belly. Consequently, there's a high risk of carrying explosives for a terrorist attack on the bridge, even though the car owner might not even be aware of them. While security officials' desire to increase security on the bridge is understandable, the roadside infrastructure has proven unprepared.

"The security forces banned it, but no one installed enough charging stations. Of course, the traffic flow is lower now than during the holiday season. But between Rostov and Crimea, there are only three gas stations with charging stations, and even they only have two outlets. I traveled in China, and they have huge charging stations with 10 stations in a row. And if we're talking about the development of electric transport and the environment, we need to build infrastructure for them in new regions as well. Because the security situation won't improve until the end of the Second World War," Tsurkin is confident.

Another issue is the availability of power capacity in new territories to install charging stations: the power grid hasn't been modernized for decades, and even if operators are ready to install stations, there may not be enough electricity.

"We have another 20-kilometer stretch of road from Dzhankoy to the border with the Kherson region, where repairs have been stalled for some reason. I myself drove along this route from Melitopol to Simferopol: knee-deep potholes, concrete barriers with traffic lights for reversible traffic, and not a soul in sight. We still have warm autumn days, so repairs can be carried out freely, and there's still time before the end of the budget year. Why was this decision made? It's causing a negative reaction among all drivers. The road from Rostov to Dzhankoy is currently the main route for freight delivery, and now it's also for electric vehicles," the head of the industry association emphasizes.

The section of the highway from Simferopol to Dzhankoy and further to the Kherson region has been transferred to federal control for the construction of the P280 "Novorossiya" highway. The future Azov Ring Road is planned to have the same technical specifications as the Tavrida highway: four lanes, a bypass of populated areas with ramps to them, and a speed limit of 90 km/h. Road infrastructure construction will take place in the second phase, and by the New Year holidays, the shortage of charging stations will become a problem for hybrid and electric vehicles.