There has been a very slow but stable growth in the electric car market, according to companies operating in the industry. They also notice a slight shortness of breath caused by the rather low dynamics of charging infrastructure development, which is affecting car demand. The electric car business is hopeful for measures that could stimulate the market.
The SAMAR Automotive Market Research Institute reports that from the beginning of the year until the end of October, 12,496 electric passenger cars were registered in Poland. There has been an absolute increase in numbers, but there is a decline in the market share of such cars. The Polish Automotive Industry Association (PZPM) reports that the Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) market grew by 1.2% in the first 10 months, but the share of electric cars in overall sales decreased by 0.4 percentage points in annual terms (to 3.1%). The same trend (a decrease of 0.9 percentage points) was seen in the European Union. The PZPM points out that in the coming months there will probably be a drop in the registration of electric passenger cars, since the call for applications for the ‘My Electric’ subsidy program will most likely be relaunched only in spring 2025.
“Polski’s electric vehicle market is changing and may not be growing dynamically, but it is stable. We are experiencing a slight breathlessness in terms of the number of charging stations being installed, so this infrastructure is not developing as dynamically as we expected, unfortunately translating into car demand and the market as a whole. So here, we need some market stimulation to get us moving from where we’re stuck,” says Marek Samborski, President of GARO Polska, a manufacturer of car charging stations.
Adjustments to the total power of the charging infrastructure in Poland should be made to match the number of registered electric vehicles, according to the AFIR regulation. Along the TEN-T network, charging zones for zero-emission vehicles must be located every 60km at most. The AFIR goals for total charging infrastructure power can be deemed satisfactory in the short term. However, the AFIR Meter report points out that the expansion of charging zones along TEN-T routes remains a significant challenge, with coverage ranging from 0% (for trucks) to 10% (for passenger cars along the base network).
“Marek Samborski notes that the AFIR regulation definitely sets high standards for us. The availability of energy connections is not as high or self-evident as it might seem. The appropriate stimulation from our government is crucial to meet these requirements.”
Improving Poland’s energy infrastructure and debunking often untrue information on electric cars are crucial factors to speed up industry growth. The price of an electric car, which is still too high for the average consumer, is vital. Experts indicate that further subsidies for purchasing zero-emission cars and a broader range from various manufacturers, including smaller and cheaper cars, are needed.
PZPM emphasizes that two new support programs have been approved for zero-emission trucks and for building their infrastructure. A total of PLN 4 billion will be allocated for these two programs, which should result in an increased number of registered zero-emission trucks.
