The Rosatom State Corporation is set to send its new Russian electric vehicle, Atom, on a polar expedition aboard the nuclear icebreaker 50 Let Pobedy. Scheduled to depart from Murmansk in the final ten days of June, the mission marks a bold test of electric mobility in one of the harshest climates on Earth.
This initiative, titled Atom on an Icebreaker, is a collaboration between Atomflot, Rosatom鈥檚 Fuel Division (which oversees its electric mobility venture), and Kama, the developer and manufacturer of the Atom EV. During the voyage, passengers will be presented with a pre-production prototype of the Atom, and the vehicle鈥檚 performance specifications will be showcased. At one point in the journey, the Atom will be deployed onto the polar ice to assess its resilience and functionality in extreme Arctic conditions.
鈥淪evere weather has traditionally posed major challenges to electric vehicles,鈥� said Alexander Bukhvalov, Director of the Electromobility Business Unit at TVEL JSC. 鈥淏y confidently taking Atom into the Arctic, we are demonstrating that these constraints no longer apply. Russian electric vehicle technology is now capable of reliable performance in any climate 鈥� regardless of season or geography. For consumers, this is a test of trust: if a car can perform here, it can handle any daily routine. Launching Atom in the same year as the 80th anniversary of Russia鈥檚 nuclear industry makes this moment symbolically significant 鈥� it merges our historic strength with our forward-looking innovation.鈥�
Igor Povarazdnyuk, General Director of KAMA JSC, added: 鈥淎tom is the first electric vehicle fully engineered in Russia for Russian conditions. It is especially symbolic that a prototype is travelling to the Arctic aboard a domestically built nuclear icebreaker 鈥� a true emblem of national pride. This event signals the arrival of electric transport in Russia. Our aim is to ensure seamless usability 鈥� from climate adaptation to digital convenience and reliable service infrastructure.鈥�
The mission reflects a growing ambition in Russia鈥檚 EV sector to extend the practicality of electric vehicles beyond city limits and into extreme environments, underlining a strategic commitment to sustainability, resilience, and technological independence.
