Kyiv for electric vehicles: why the capital is ahead

Electric vehicles have long ceased to be a rarity on Ukrainian roads, but it is in Kyiv that they feel right at home. It has everything you need for daily EV use: from powerful charging stations to services that actually work. And while other cities are still developing their infrastructure, the capital is keeping a steady pace.

We looked at what makes Kyiv the most convenient city for electric car drivers. Not only the number of charging points, but also the quality of service, accessibility of services, availability of parking spaces, and even the atmosphere in the city create a comfort that many regions lack. If you are wondering where the best place to drive an electric car is, this article is for you.

We remind you that you can purchase home and commercial charging stations in our online storeand also use the public charging stations ECOFACTORcharging points located throughout Ukraine. For convenient access to charging infrastructure, we recommend using our mobile applicationwhich is available on iOS and Android.

How ready is your city for electric vehicles?

Are you thinking of switching to an electric car, but are you unsure whether it will be convenient to use it every day? Are there enough charging stations? Will finding a car park with an outlet turn into a quest? These are all perfectly logical questions. But if you live in Kyiv, you already have an answer.

New research and real-life experience of drivers show that Kyiv is currently the best place in Ukraine to live with an electric car. Developed infrastructure, the availability of services and mobile applications, support from the driver community, and even attention from the city authorities - all this creates an environment where driving an electric car is easy.

How is the city's readiness for electric vehicles measured?

Experts assessed the situation based on several key parameters:

• availability of charging stations (AC and DC)
• charging cost
• availability of parking with charging
• Supporting environmental initiatives and incentives

In each of these areas, Kyiv shows better results than most other Ukrainian cities. In some districts of the capital, charging points have already become a common part of car parks, and the number of services that allow you to manage the charging process from your smartphone is growing every month.

The most convenient cities for electric vehicles in Ukraine now look like this:

• Kyiv
• Lviv
• Dnipro

But the situation is still more complicated:

• Chernivtsi
• Kherson
• Sievierodonetsk

Kyiv confidently ranks first thanks to the concentration of charging points, active participation of businesses in the development of services and support from local initiatives. Lviv is developing rapidly, but still falls short in terms of network density. Dnipro is making progress, but only in a small way.

What makes Kyiv the most convenient city for electric vehicles?

Large number of charging stations

Kyiv is the leader in Ukraine in terms of the number of charging stations - and this is evident to the naked eye. There are dozens of high-speed (DC) and conventional (AC) charging stations in different parts of the city. They are installed near shopping malls, business centres, petrol stations, residential complexes, and even on the streets. In residential areas, the situation is no longer as difficult as it was a few years ago - you can find a charger even late at night.

In addition, developers have begun to design new residential complexes with sockets right in the parking lots. This is already becoming the norm. That is, you don't need to pull the cable out of the window or negotiate with security to charge at night - everything is smartly arranged.

Various services

What used to require calls, paper cards or waiting in line is now done in a few clicks. Apps such as ECOFACTOR, YASNO eMobility, UkrEnergo Drive, and universal maps of charging stations allow you to find the nearest point, check its status in real time, plan a route, and even book a slot.

Another feature is that most charging stations in Kyiv allow you to pay for charging directly from the app or even from the terminal at the station. Bank cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay are supported. No need to subscribe to 10 different services - everything is simple and straightforward.

No unnecessary restrictions

Unlike some European cities, which impose restrictions on the entry of ICEs into the city centre, Kyiv has no such rules yet. However, electric vehicles have advantages: preferential parking, access to more convenient locations, and sometimes the ability to enter closed areas where entry for petrol cars is charged or restricted.

Car parks near business centres, government offices or shopping malls often have separate EV spaces with sockets - and this is not an exception, but a standard. And most importantly, many drivers in Kyiv are already used to electric cars, so they are more loyal to them: no one is surprised if someone is charging for a long time or takes an "inconvenient" place near a building.

A growing community

One of the strongest advantages of Kyiv is its community. Drivers share their experience, warn about charging breakdowns, advise where it is cheaper to charge or where there are queues. Telegram channels, Viber groups, EV forums, and even Facebook pages are real help, not just theory.

There are several active initiatives in Kyiv that not only disseminate information, but also organise meetings, test drives, and even lobby for new rules for the convenience of electric motorists. If you've just bought an electric car and have questions, just write to one of these groups and you'll get a response from experienced drivers in a few minutes.

Why are Ukrainians switching to electric cars?

In addition to convenience and a modern look, switching to electric cars is a very pragmatic decision for many Ukrainians. Not everyone makes this choice for the same reasons, but there are several factors that come up most often:

• To reduce fuel costs: This is the first thing that comes to mind for most drivers. Petrol and diesel are not cheap, especially after the price hikes of recent years. Charging an electric car, especially at night or at home, costs several times less than filling up the tank. And if you also install a home station or use the night tariff, the savings will be very tangible. For Kyiv residents, this means less spending on daily commuting without sacrificing comfort.
• Because of my environmental beliefs: Many people think about what the city breathes. In Kyiv, there are areas where the air is noticeably worse - and this is no longer an abstraction, but something you can actually feel, especially in summer. Electric cars do not emit harmful emissions, so it is a logical step for people who want to contribute to a cleaner city. And you don't need to be an environmental activist - you just don't want to add another exhaust gas to the picture.
• Because it is convenient and technologically advanced: Ukrainians are quickly getting used to digital services - and electric cars fit perfectly into this. Silent running, automatic transmission, an app instead of keys, remote control via smartphone - all of this sounds like something from the future, but it already works here and now. In a city where you need to be mobile every day, these things have a significant impact on the quality of life.
• Because of better parking conditions: In Kyiv, drivers of electric vehicles often enjoy privileges in car parks: these can be discounts, special places at the entrance, or the ability to charge while parked. While this is not yet widespread, the trend is clear: electric cars in the city are receiving more and more preferences, and the owners of ICEs are noticing.
• Because it's convenient to charge at home or at work: One of the main concerns of newcomers is how will I charge my car? But in Kyiv, this issue has long been resolved. If you live in a new residential complex or have access to a car park, you can install a charging station. If not, there is always a point nearby, especially in the centre or business districts. Offices, coworking spaces, supermarkets, gyms - more and more often they have charging stations in the car park. And this is not an inconvenience, but a bonus: while you are doing your business, the car is charging itself.

In the capital, electric cars are no longer perceived as exotic. It's something as commonplace as contactless payment or app delivery. People are switching to electric cars not because it's fashionable, but because it's smart. And Kyiv is the city where this transition has already become the norm.

How ECOFACTOR helps to make Kyiv convenient for electric vehicles

At ECOFACTOR, we are working to ensure that electric car drivers in Kyiv can charge their cars without any hassle. This is no longer a dream, but a daily practice. Our team designs, manufactures, installs, and maintains charging stationscharging points located in many districts of the capital. They are adapted to Ukrainian conditions and support both standard and fast charging.

To make using an electric car as convenient as possible, we have created an app for iOS and Android. The app allows you to find a charger, check its status, see the price, start a session, and monitor energy consumption. The app includes map of charging stationswhich is updated in real time. For businesses, we offer a network management platform that allows them to monitor loads, flexibly change tariffs and connect new points.

We don't just install equipment - we give you the opportunity to manage it. We now have more than 3,500 charging ports on our platform, and most of them are operating in Kyiv. At the same time, our online store you can find the necessary items for daily use of the electric car: mobile charging solutions, cables, adapters, holders, RFID cards and other accessories. Everything is collected in one place so you don't have to search for it on different websites.

We also launched a Bonus Fund, through which our users can accumulate points for charging. These points are then used to develop the network, including the installation of new stations in the city. This allows the entire EV driving community to directly influence how quickly the infrastructure grows.

We do not impose solutions - we rely on user demand. If the city is becoming more convenient for electric cars, then everything is working properly. And we are glad that Kyiv is moving forward in this process, and we have the opportunity to be a part of it.

Conclusions: Kyiv and electric cars are already the present

Kyiv is not just on a course towards electric mobility - it is already there. Charging stations are available, services are working, and the community is growing. Here, driving an electric car is not difficult, not expensive, and definitely not exotic. It's a normal part of city life.

Of course, there are still issues and things that need to be improved. But in general, the capital provides drivers with everything they need: infrastructure, convenience, the ability to charge on the go or near their homes, and most importantly, the feeling that you are not alone in this topic.

We at ECOFACTOR are happy to be part of this movement. And if you are still hesitating whether to switch to an electric car in Kyiv, the answer is, frankly, obvious.

Frequently asked questions