Favourable government initiatives and new business models boost Poland’s EV market

Poland’s electro-mobility market is ripe for growth, according to research organisation 2097 Frost & Sullivan. Favourable government initiatives such as the Electro-mobility Plan and Electro-mobility and Alternative Fuels Act are reshaping local mobility and igniting innovative clean technologies to achieve higher competitiveness and energy optimisation. Growth will be augmented by consumer incentives and the simultaneous development of infrastructure, energy distribution, and product offerings. Players should look for opportunities in charging point infrastructure development, automotive supply chain transformation, and public transport modernisation to gain a competitive advantage.
 
Frost & Sullivan’s report, Poland Electromobility Market, 2016–2025, finds that the EV market in Poland grew at an impressive compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 77 per cent during 2011-2016, with 4962 Mitsubishi Outlander plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) being the best-selling model for three consecutive years. The research analyses the EV market in Poland as two segments: passenger vehicles and city buses. Key trends, forecasts, taxation structures, drivers, restraints, government plans, business models, charging station infrastructure, and energy generation strategies are discussed.

“Developing a charging point network will be critical to electric vehicle (EV) growth. Players should assess potential locations for the installation of charging stations, collaborate with municipalities to obtain permits for charging point construction, and consider merging the efforts of charging point operators, utilities, and oil and gas companies to leverage existing capabilities in charging technology, energy generation, and distribution networks,” said Frost & Sullivan Mobility Consulting analyst Ivan Kondratenko.
 
Poland’s electro-mobility market developments and trends encouraging growth include plans to have 1 million electric vehicles on the road by 2025, along with tax reductions, no real estate tax for charging points, no excise duty, free parking for EVs and zero-emission zones. Other incentives include financial support from government and 1816 European Union (EU) fund for 45 municipalities to purchase 819 electric buses by 2020 and establishment of and eBus programme to modernise public transport with alternative fuel solutions such as electric powertrains. There are also plans for the construction of a battery production factory by LG Chem in Wroclaw to supply European original equipment manufacturers with EV batteries.

“New EV mobility business models are emerging through technology advancements, particularly app-based, on-demand services that encourage access to mobility rather than ownership, such as car-sharing and electric taxis,” noted Kondratenko. “Players should seek to tap into these lucrative nascent markets.”