Electric Vehicles in Poland – statistics

Last update: 9.01.2024

The number of electric vehicles in Poland is growing rapidly but remains significantly lower compared to Western Europe. However, the dynamic growth of this segment makes the Polish market increasingly attractive to car manufacturers, dealers, and infrastructure investors.

As of the end of June 2024, 125 487 passenger and commercial electric vehicles were registered in Poland, an increase of 13 742 vehicles or 12.3% compared to the same period in 2023.

For comparison, in 2023, the electric vehicle fleet grew by 30 341 units, a 42% increase over 2022. By mid-June 2024, the fully electric passenger car (BEV) fleet had 62 125 vehicles, while plug-in hybrids (PHEV) numbered 57 172. Additionally, there were 6 926 electric delivery and heavy-duty vehicles on the roads.

According to the draft updated Climate and Energy Plan, it is projected that by 2030, Poland could have over 1.46 million registered electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.

Among them, light vehicle numbers may exceed 1.45 million, of which 0.8 million will be electric cars (BEV), and 0.65 million will be plug-in hybrids. Heavy-duty vehicles could reach over 7 000, including over 4 500 zero-emission city buses powered by hydrogen or electricity.

Regarding hydrogen-powered vehicles, projections suggest that by 2030, about 6 000 such vehicles could be registered in Poland, with more than 5 000 of them being light vehicles, and over 950 being heavy-duty vehicles, of which over 800 would be hydrogen buses.

Investments in electric vehicles

The European Union’s decarbonization goals for transport, such as the ban on the sale of new internal combustion engine cars from 2035, provide strong motivation for green investments in Poland.

Investments in electromobility include the development of battery production, charging infrastructure, and component recycling.

According to a report by the Polish Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH) and the Polish Chamber of Electromobility Development (PIRE), by 2035, the overall net balance of automotive and battery production in the V4 region (Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary) is expected to reach €58.5 billion, with €16.9 billion for Poland.

Battery production investments could increase the V4 GDP by 5.3% and Poland’s GDP by 2.6%. Forecasts also indicate that by 2030, Polish exports of batteries for electric vehicles will quadruple. In 2022, Poland was one of the leaders in electromobility component exports, with exports exceeding €12.4 billion.

Benefits / incentives for electric vehicles in Poland

Electric vehicle buyers and users can benefit from various incentives, including:

Tax incentives:

• Exemption from excise tax
• Higher depreciation limits (for tax purposes)
• Exemption from emission charges

Parking incentives:

• Free parking in paid parking zones (according to local regulations)
• Additional parking spaces reserved for electric vehicles

Driving and access incentives:

• Use of bus lanes (until 2025)
• Access to restricted traffic zones in city centers

Financial support for purchasing an electric car:

• Grants for the purchase of a new electric car

Infrastructure incentives:

• Administrative facilitations for building charging points (e.g., no building permit required)
• Statutory goals for charging infrastructure development, including the responsibilities of municipalities in this regard
• Requirement that at least 30% of the vehicle fleet in municipalities with over 50 000 inhabitants must be electric

It’s important to note that these privileges apply only to fully electric vehicles, not hybrids.

Regulations on electric vehicles in Poland

The first comprehensive regulation regarding electric vehicles was adopted in the Act of January 11, 2018, on Electromobility and Alternative Fuels. The key goal of this act is the development of electric vehicle charging infrastructure and the establishment of rules for its use.

Electromobility in Poland is also regulated by various other legal acts, including:

• Directive 2014/94/EU of the European Parliament and Council on the development of alternative fuel infrastructure
• Regulation of the Minister of Climate and Environment of June 26, 2023, on technical conditions for electric vehicle charging stations and points
• Construction Law of July 7, 1994
• Regulation of the Minister of Infrastructure of October 17, 2021, on technical conditions for road signs and traffic safety devices

Clean Transport Zones

One of the key elements of the electromobility act is the possibility of creating local clean transport zones (SCT), where only electric, hydrogen, and natural gas vehicles will be allowed.

From July 1, 2024, Warsaw operates the first such zone in Poland, covering most of the Śródmieście district and parts of neighboring districts. Entry is restricted for the most polluting vehicles.

Only electric, hydrogen, or natural gas vehicles, as well as those exempted by municipal council resolutions, can enter the clean transport zone. Exceptions include public service vehicles such as police, fire department, or ambulances, and vehicles used by disabled persons.

Vehicles with petrol engines older than 27 years or not meeting Euro 2 standards, and diesel vehicles older than 19 years or not meeting Euro 4 standards, are prohibited from entering the zone.

In addition, SCTs can be established for an indefinite period or for a minimum of five years.

Municipal councils can introduce additional exemptions and temporary entry permits for vehicles not meeting the standards, subject to a fee that will contribute to the municipal budget, which will be used for purchasing zero-emission public transport.

The boundaries of Clean Transport Zones (SCT) will be marked with appropriate road signs, and compliance with the regulations will be regularly monitored.

Obligations of local governments in public procurement

Local government units are required to ensure a minimum share of electric vehicles in the fleets used for public procurement. Starting from January 1, 2022, the share of electric vehicles in these fleets must be at least 10%.

Additionally, local governments are required to ensure that from January 1, 2025, at least 20% of their bus fleets are zero-emission vehicles.

Furthermore, when carrying out public procurements, local governments must ensure a specified minimum share of electric vehicles and those powered by alternative fuels in the total number of vehicles covered by these procurements. By December 31, 2030, the share of electric or hydrogen-powered vehicles in categories M1, M2, and N1 should be at least 22%. For N2 and N3 vehicles, the share of vehicles powered by alternative fuels should be at least 7% by the end of 2025 and increase to 9% starting in 2026.

In the case of buses (category M3), by the end of 2025, at least 32% should be powered by alternative fuels, with half of them being zero-emission. From 2026, the minimum share of buses powered by alternative fuels increases to 46%. These shares apply collectively to all public procurements conducted during a given period, and vehicles that have been retrofitted to meet the relevant requirements can be counted towards the minimum shares.

Reporting obligations

Entities required to meet the numerical and percentage requirements for electric or natural gas-powered vehicles in their fleets must submit the relevant information to the Minister of Energy and the Minister of Climate by January 31 of each year, based on the status as of December 31 of the previous year.

Additionally, procuring entities must provide the Minister of Transport with information on the number and categories of vehicles covered by procurements where the requirement for a minimum share of low- and zero-emission vehicles applies. If no such procurements were made in a given year, the procuring entity is not required to submit a statement.

Local electric transport

Local government units, except for municipalities and counties with a population of less than 50 000, are required to provide or commission public transportation services only from entities that guarantee that at least 30% of their bus fleet consists of zero-emission or biomethane-powered vehicles.

Charging station development plan

The Electric Vehicles Act also stipulates that if private entities do not build a sufficient number of charging stations, appropriate actions must be taken by the relevant municipalities to adopt a plan for the construction of public charging stations.

Subsequently, the relevant energy distribution system operators are responsible for building the missing stations and points to meet the minimum number of charging points specified in Article 60(1) of the Act, which is:

1. 1000 car charging stations – in municipalities with more than 1 000 000 residents, where at least 600 000 motor vehicles are registered, and there are at least 700 vehicles per 1 000 residents;
2. 210 car charging stations – in municipalities with over 300 000 residents, where at least 200 000 motor vehicles are registered, and there are at least 500 vehicles per 1 000 residents;
3. 100 car charging stations – in municipalities with over 150 000 residents, where at least 95 000 motor vehicles are registered, and there are at least 400 vehicles per 1 000 residents;
4. 60 car charging stations – in municipalities with over 100 000 residents, where at least 60 000 motor vehicles are registered, and there are at least 400 vehicles per 1 000 residents.

New buildings and charging stations

1. Public utility and multi-family residential buildings in municipalities with populations between 100 000 and 1 000 000 must be designed and built with a connection capacity allowing the installation of charging points with a power of at least 3.7 kW.
2. Non-residential buildings with more than 10 parking spaces must have at least one charging point and infrastructure allowing the installation of additional charging points for every five parking spaces.
3. Residential buildings with more than 10 parking spaces must be equipped with conduits for electrical wiring at all spaces to enable the installation of charging points.
4. These requirements also apply when renovating or remodeling buildings if the cost of the work exceeds 25% of the building’s value, and the cost related to the installation of charging infrastructure does not exceed 7% of the total renovation or remodeling cost.
5. In the case of historical buildings, installing charging points requires the approval of the provincial heritage conservator.
6. The regulations regarding non-residential buildings do not apply to buildings owned by small and medium-sized enterprises.

Charging station map

The current map of charging stations can be found at https://eipa.udt.gov.pl/