Business · Economy · 3 hrs ago
Russian professor predicts distance-based road charges within 5 to 10 years
Professor Mikhail Blinkin predicts Russia may charge drivers for each kilometre they travel within five to ten years.
He made the prediction at the Kazan Digital Week forum.
The idea would replace some road funding from fuel taxes with charges based on distance driven.
Blinkin says fuel taxes bring in less as electric cars spread and newer vehicles use less fuel.
Systems that record vehicle mileage already operate on many federal highways and in Moscow and Kazan.
Drivers already pay a transport tax and fuel duties, and Russia’s Transport Ministry says it is not considering or supporting the proposal.
The prediction is not an approved policy, and existing law generally requires toll roads to have a free alternative, with some exceptions.
HSE professor Mikhail Blinkin predicts Russia could move to charging drivers by distance within five to 10 years.
He says fuel taxes are becoming a less reliable way to fund roads as electric vehicles spread and cars use less fuel.
Blinkin says systems to track vehicle mileage already operate on federal highways, Avtodor roads and in Moscow and Kazan.
Russia’s Transport Ministry says it is not considering or supporting the initiative.
Drivers already pay a transport tax and fuel excise, Za Rulem editor Maxim Kadakov said.
- Who
- HSE professor Mikhail Blinkin made the prediction.
- What
- Russia may replace the division between toll and free roads with charges based on distance driven.
- When
- Within five to 10 years, according to Blinkin.
- Where
- Russia; Blinkin made the prediction at the Kazan Digital Week forum.
- Why
- Blinkin says fuel-tax revenue is becoming less reliable as electric vehicles spread and modern cars use less fuel.
Mikhail Blinkin
Russia’s Transport Ministry
Proposal
Mikhail Blinkin
Russia could introduce distance-based road charges within five to 10 years.
Russia’s Transport Ministry
The ministry says it is not considering or supporting the initiative.
Current road funding
Mikhail Blinkin
Fuel excises are becoming outdated as electric vehicles spread and cars use less fuel.
Russia’s Transport Ministry
Not stated.
This story does not have a timeline yet.
- Forecast
- Distance-based charges could arrive within 5 to 10 years
- Existing mileage tracking
- Federal highways, Avtodor roads, Moscow and Kazan
- Fuel efficiency
- Modern cars use 20–25% less fuel, according to Blinkin
- International examples
- 20 US states return part of the fuel tax based on distance driven
3 sources
What people are saying
At least, we are talking about the next five to 10 years at most
Motorists already pay a transport tax and excises in the price of gasoline.