The pace of charging infrastructure development in Poland is still too slow and remains one of the biggest barriers in the development of the electric vehicle market – experts indicate. There is a demand for the construction of such installations, but the problem lies in the long waiting times for electrical connections. The process of launching new charging points can even drag on for two to three years, and one could potentially cut this time in half, at least.
Karol Rewczuk, Electrification Manager at Volvo Car Poland, emphasizes in a discussion with the Newseria Biznes agency that a comprehensive electric vehicle charging system should consists of several significant aspects. The first is the city itself, where a large number of charging stations are required, since people often leave their cars overnight. Mobility between cities is also vital, and a significantly higher number of charging stations are necessary for this.
According to the Electromobility Counter developed by PZPM and PSNM, as of the end of August 2024, there were 7,725 publicly accessible electric vehicle charging points (4,264 stations) in Poland. Nearly 30 percent were fast DC charging points, but most (71 percent) were slow AC charging points with a power less than or equal to 22 kW. More than 160 new points were launched in August.
According to the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA), the number of electric vehicle charging points in Poland is less than one charger per 100 km of roads, putting the country towards the bottom in the European Union rankings. Most charging points are situated near large agglomerations, and there is a lack of them along routes.
Rewczuk further pointed out, beyond having different types of charging stations, there is an insufficient number of fast charging stations needed during commute in Poland. Among these types of stations, only about 300 can reach a power of approximately 150 kW.
According to the “New Mobility Barometer 2024” prepared by PSNM, the insufficiency of the level of readiness and availability of charging infrastructure increasingly has a negative impact on Poles’ decision to purchase electric cars. In just three years, the proportion of respondents mentioning this as a reason not to buy an EV has increased by 11 percentage points, to 36 percent. Furthermore, nearly half of the respondents stated that if they did not have the possibility of charging at home, a public charger could not be located further than 2 km from their place of residence.
Data from the “Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure in Polish Cities” report of the Polish Association of New Mobility of 2024, for which Volvo is a partner, shows that in 19 out of 37 of the largest cities in Poland, the proportion of publicly accessible, fast DC charging points did not exceed 20 percent. In 11 out of 37 of the largest cities in Poland, their number did not exceed 10. The issue is also the low density of the network and the so-called “white spots” on the map of electric car charging stations.
The PSNM’s “White Paper of New Mobility” assesses that the development of the electric vehicle market is being blocked by an insufficient infrastructure and the slow pace of their construction. Out of the 120 changes advocated by the industry to promote electromobility, 30 concern public and private charging infrastructure.
As stated by Rewczuk, the waiting period for electrical infrastructure to be available in a specific location is the biggest obstacle. There are numerous companies that would like to invest in the infrastructure for charging, and every one of them would like to set up a station and would like to do this within a reasonable timeframe, but unfortunately, waiting times for connection last several years.
The PSNM reports that the start-up of electric vehicle fast charging stations in Poland currently takes the longest in Europe. Operators owning almost 80 percent of all fast charging points for electric vehicles in Poland in August jointly appealed with the PSNM to the government to introduce a series of systemic changes and to prioritize regulations in the connection area. This is especially important considering that Poland needs to fulfill EU requirements resulting from the AFIR regulation.
Furthermore, Volvo is engaging in the process of expanding the infrastructure network for fast charging of electric vehicles. In May of this year, the company launched the eV City powered by Volvo program aimed at local governments, the result of which is to accelerate the evolution of electromobility. Over a few months, five authorities have joined (Augustów, Ełk, Wrocław, Węgierska Górka, and Łódź), and discussions are underway with others. The first edition of the program will cover 35 cities throughout Poland, where 130 dual-position fast charging stations with a power of 175kW will be established in places most frequently visited by electric car users.
In terms of accounting systems, the charging programs offered by electric car manufacturers are a great solution. By utilizing the subscription option, you receive a card that allows you to charge throughout Europe, there is no need to install multiple applications or wonder about the rates. Defined rates, predetermined stations along the route where it is possible to charge using the card make the charging process much simpler. These charging stations are also pre-loaded on car navigation systems.
