Russia’s Re-Volt: Their Green Response to Tesla’s Capitalistic Electric Revolution is a Soviet Retread EV

It appears that other outside entities not related to the auto or energy industries, are showing interest in jumping on the EV gravy train by manufacturing their own battery electric vehicle for mass production and global market. At a recent professional exhibition of military and civilian arms, munitions, firearms, and weapons just outside Moscow recently, the storied and notorious Kalashnikov Group, manufacturers of the infamous AK-47, whose maker’s namesake was a shrewd Stalin Era inventor and Soviet tank commander in WW II, seized the opportunity of the expo to display what appears to be a prototype battery electric car. Social media hasn’t been the same since:

• -A 200 year old historic Russian arms manufacturer suddenly wants to make civilian mass production electric cars.
• -The car choice: a hatchback called “Izh,” is Kalashnikov’s BEV called “CV-1.”
• -It’s a 5 door Russian hatchback made back in the 70s Soviet Era.
• -90 kilowatt hour battery gives it a range of 350 kilometers which is about 217 miles. Range on Chevy Bolt is 238 miles.
• -0 to 100 kph (that’s about 62 mph) in 6 secs.
• -Social Media is abuzz.
• -Not known what the car’s future holds.
• -It will never make it to western shores for one thing.

At a recent arms expo for military and civilians located just outside Moscow, the historic Russians arms manufacturer the Kalashnikov Group announced and displayed a powder blue 5 door hatchback as a prototype of what they say is a civilian battery electric vehicle. In displaying the car and promoting it on their website, the storied and historic arms consortium made its intentions clear that not only does it wish to mass manufacture the car, but that it believes it is also capable of incorporating into it those features of the car the technologies that are either compatible or capable of rivaling the technologies of apparent electric car industry leader, Tesla Corporation, the controversial American electric car and renewable energy resources company based in Palo Alto, CA.

Who’s Kalashnikov the Company?

Although Russian build quality of their automobiles has historically fallen wayside with the reputation of the Russian car industry that usually builds them, what is unique in this case is that a historic company who has set its reputation against the small arms and artillery weapons it builds and supplies to the various Russian armies over the last 200 years, is something to take note of, if not seriously. From the muskets they made for the Russian Imperial Army of the 19th century to fight Napoleon, to the anti-tank weapons they supplied Stalin’s Red Army during World War II to fight Hitler, Kalashnikov makes weapons like handguns, sub machine guns, artillery, bombs, anti-tank and aircraft and anti-aircraft guns. They are famously known for their founder namesake inventing, and they manufacturing, the terrorist preferred assault rifle, the AK-47. They also make military robots and unmanned vehicles, so there’s no doubt that they have the capability of producing a vehicle of some kind.

Who’s Kalashnikov?

Under its present structure, the Kalashnikov Group, a merging of several arms companies over the years in various states of financial health, with its ancestral company founded in 1807 by Royal Warrant of His Imperial Majesty, Tsar Alexander I, is currently owned under shareholder stock by a handful of Russian oligarchs. But its namesake under its present form is a hero in recent Soviet-Russian history. Lieutenant-General Mikhail Timofeyevich Kalashnikov, who passed away fairly recently at 94, was a highly decorated Russian military officer who was a clever and shrewd inventor who quickly rose up the Stalin Army ranks of tank mechanic to tank commander, as he had a knack for being a self-taught gunsmith. Eventually becoming a post war academian and book author, his contributions to warfare science and to his country are above reproach. Bestowed with the medal of Hero of the Russian Federation, the highest and most prestigious honor any Russian citizen can receive from their country, he was afforded a state funeral at his death in 2013.

Should We Take Them Seriously?

This is legacy of another kind, for a car industry that likes to boast its historic credentials. If this company were about making farm tractors, lawn mowers, or microwaves, nobody would take them even further seriously about making a BEV. With the history they already have with the royal pedigree, just serious is enough to give pause and notice. Even if this car were to make it to a western market, which it won’t and I explain why below, it of course could never stand toe to toe with a Tesla (even on their worse quality control day), a Porsche electric (if they ever knew what a bad quality control day ever was), even a Nissan, Kia, or Hyundai one as well, in category, design, function, and to the contrary technology. The sedan might be endangered here, but the straight out 5 door hatch is also played. But as a classic car conversion, they might be onto something. But that’s it. Hopefully the electric version will be more reliable than the gasoline version probably ever was.

The Soviet style hatchback once called “Izh,” is the design and styling basis for Kalashnikov’s electric vehicle called CV-1. Missing traditional headlights, for example, the marque updates to LED’s in front. Grille design makes it difficult to see if it it’s still functional. Folks for some reason I’m feeling Ford Cortina here. Maybe late 60s early 70s Ford Falcon? Somebody out there would like to chime in?

According to several media reports, the company told reporters attending the expo that the car featured technology that would "let us stand in the ranks of global electric car producers such as Tesla." What that technology is, how it compares with Tesla, and how its technology even helps its EV range, which is less than even a Chevy Bolt, were not addressed.

Since the vehicle is in the prototype phase, vehicle pricing was either not addressed, discussed, or estimated.

Sanctions Really Do Work Afterall!

Even if the CV-1 were to make it past prototype to pre-production and eventual production phases, the Kalashnikov Group would under present international diplomatic politics, not be able to sell this car to the West, at least legally, as in accordance to any country who is under joint UN resolution that sanctions Russia for the annexation of Crimea and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The United States and the European Union have both specifically sanctioned the consortium for supplying arms for invasion of both those parts of the world. So once again, this is just another product that unless Russian circumstances changes, it’ll only be sold mostly in the home market, perhaps a few units to Africa, Asia, and South America to places not obliged to the sanctions or willing to look the other way.

No comment from Tesla. Mr. Musk was asked on social media for a comment but he hasn’t replied.

Roadware. Very nice. What do you think?

Meet Russia’s answer to Tesla, the Kalashnikov CV-1
Kalashnikov Unveils Electric Car Seeking to Dethrone Tesla