"Vityaz" will launch serial production of electric charging stations in 2017

The "Vityaz" plant and the "Schneider Electric" representative office in Russia and the CIS have agreed on joint activities for the production of stationary electric charging stations based at the Vitebsk enterprise. The corresponding agreement was signed between the heads of the companies on October 11 at the XXI Belarusian Energy and Environmental Forum in Minsk. For "Vityaz", such cooperation will be another step in diversifying production and will provide an opportunity to bring a new type of product to the market of the EAEU countries through the "Schneider" group of companies. The foreign partner, which already has operating plants for the production of electric refueling stations, will be able to localize production in Vitebsk.

"In 2014, we developed a company development strategy until 2030, which provides for the phased introduction of new products. We have already established the production of hoverboards, and from 2017 we are launching a number of new products, including medical equipment. Also this year, we created our concept for electric refueling for "green cars". Currently, "Vityaz" is completing tests of the prototype stationary electric charging station "Vityaz EC-301", and we will receive preliminary certificates of conformity. Then the prototype will be finalized with the help of partners' know-how and their system architectures," explained Sergey Gunko.

The station will not be inferior to imported counterparts. It has a convenient system for management and payment through a billing system (application software) and can serve electric vehicles from various manufacturers. In essence, it will be the second, improved generation of the device, which is planned to be presented by the end of November. In parallel with the development of the concept, JSC "Vityaz" studied the domestic market for interest in this product. The plant was one of the first to be included in the charging infrastructure development program and

electric transport, adopted in Belarus. Written confirmation of readiness to use "sockets" for electric vehicles when designing new and modernizing existing parking lots of shopping and business centers has been received from the heads of regional centers.

"In addition, customs duties on electric vehicles have been abolished in the Customs Space since September. The largest automotive corporations have begun to actively reorient towards building factories producing environmentally friendly transport," added Sergey Gunko. These factors, among others, contributed to the acceleration of work: if initially the Vitebsk plant planned to start mass production of its development in 2019, then the deadlines have now been moved and partners are needed. The Vitebsk Television Plant "Vityaz" was established in 1976. In 2010, the enterprise was corporatized with a 100% state share in the authorized capital.

OJSC "Vityaz" specializes in the production of televisions, household appliances, medical equipment, and other high-tech products. Schneider Electric is a global expert in the development and production of solutions in the field of energy management, as well as integrated energy-efficient solutions for energy and infrastructure, industrial enterprises, civil and residential construction, and data processing centers.

Ekaterina Knyazeva - BELTA.