In recent years, the automotive and mobility sector has undergone a profound transformation, catalysed by an increasing urgency to address environmental concerns and promote sustainable practices. 

Poland has made significant strides in transportation development, especially in its Recovery and Resilience Plan funded by the EU to combat COVID-19 effects, but detailed analysis reveals the country is still one of seven EU member states at risk of missing fundamental green automobility targets. What is the current state of play of sustainable automobility in Poland?

Polish Sustainable Automobility Policy Review

Poland’s Recovery and Resilience Plan 

European funds play an important role in co-funding transport projects, Poland is set to receive a total of €59.8 billion in loans and grants for its Recovery and Resilience plan to combat the effects of Covid-19. Out of the total 46.6% are set towards supporting the green transition and € 7.5 billion are earmarked for green and smart mobility. In order to make use of the full funds all measures divided under the plan have to be implemented by August 2026. 

EV Tax Benefits & Subsidies 

Consumers benefit from registration tax exemption until 2029 for all new electric vehicles and PHEVs ( up to 2000 cc). Additionally, the government provides ownership tax benefits to counter depreciation, up to €52200 for BEV and FCEVs up to €34600 for vehicles emitting 0-50g CO2/km and up to €23300 for vehicles emitting > 50g CO2 /km. 

The Green Car program offers private individuals the possibility to receive co-financing of up to €4100 for new car purchases when it does not exceed 15% of the car value and the purchase price does not exceed €27500. The Koliber program is addressed to business owners and it includes a one-off surcharge for the company may amount to 20% of the value of the vehicle and not more than €5500 in the case of a subsidy or loan up to 100% of eligible costs. The eVAN program aimed at people interested in purchasing an electric delivery vehicle. The co-financing of up to 30% of costs but not more than €16200. 

Automobility Technological Advancements in Poland

The rapid development of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) in Poland over recent years has been a notable aspect of the country's transportation infrastructure. ITS solutions have become integral to highways and road networks, supported by significant investments. Under the current EU funding scheme from 2014 to 2023 (with potential extension until 2025), the government plans to invest $17.5 billion in railway infrastructure and $36.6 billion in road infrastructure. Among successful implementations is e-TOLL, facilitating toll collection on motorways, expressways, and national roads, alongside CANARD, which connects all photoradars. Notably, the manual toll collection system was phased out in December 2021. In May 2020, the General Directorate of National Roads and Motorways (GDDKiA) entered a contract for a National System of Traffic Management valued at over $52 million, co-financed by the EU. This project aims to provide real-time monitoring of highways and express roads, enhancing dynamic traffic management services, providing traffic condition information, supporting road infrastructure maintenance processes, and asset management. 

In a state-led venture, Poland is also aiming to develop its own home-grown electric car, known as Izera. In November, the firm signed a license agreement with Chinese company Geely – owner of the Volvo and Lotus brands, among others – to supply the platform for the vehicle. 

Polish Infrastructure Development

Road Infrastructure development 

Poland boasts an expansive road network, spanning approximately 2,092 kilometres of highways and 6,120 kilometres of express roads. The Ministry of Infrastructure has drafted a new road program outlining government-planned investments in national roads throughout the third decade of the 21st century, totalling approximately €54.5 billion. This allocation encompasses new projects valued at around €35 billion and ongoing initiatives totalling about €19.5 billion. The program focuses on enhancing the Trans-European Transport Networks (TEN-T) road network and complementary road connections, facilitating investments in new road infrastructure and upgrades. 

In 2022, Poland constructed 322 kilometres of new roads, with ongoing construction covering over 1,241 kilometres and an additional 267 kilometres in the tender process. The 2023 plan targets the completion of 259 kilometres of new roads, including nearly 48 kilometres of highways and over 191 kilometres of express roads. Notably, the government has allocated over €5.9 billion for construction on the Polish segment of the Via Carpatia, an international route linking Lithuania with Greece, alongside funding for new ring roads in various cities. Additionally, a resolution adopted in April 2021 outlines the construction of 100 ring roads during the period of 2020-2030, with an investment exceeding €5.9 billion. 

Another significant endeavour is the Polish segment of the Via Baltica, an 870 kilometer expressway connecting Tallinn, Estonia to Warsaw, Poland via Latvia and Lithuania, promoting vital road connections among Baltic countries. The final opening of Via Baltica is slated for mid-2024. Furthermore, the General Directorate for National Roads and Highways (GDDKiA) initiated "The Safe Road Infrastructure Program 2021-2024," earmarking over €544 million from the National Road Fund to enhance road safety infrastructure on a large scale. Additionally, the National Traffic System, supported by a €120 million subvention from the European Commission, aims to provide real-time information to drivers regarding traffic, accidents, and road conditions. Moreover, the "Bridges for Regions" program, with an estimated cost of €532 million, commenced in 2020, encompassing the construction of 21 bridges over major Polish rivers, with 23 new investments currently underway. 

EV charging infrastructure in Poland

Poland is gearing up for a substantial expansion of its public charging infrastructure network, with plans to boost the current number of charging points from around 5,000 to nearly 100,000 by 2030. Within the next three years, the annual installation rate of new chargers could surpass ten times the rate observed in 2022. The year 2022 saw a remarkable 30% increase in the total number of public charging stations in Poland, driven by the installation of 633 new chargers. Notably, the percentage of fast charging stations, with a capacity exceeding 50 kW, has been steadily rising, comprising 11% of the Polish network in 2022, up from 8% in 2021. This expansion has led to a significant overall increase in the total capacity of operational infrastructure, which surged by 44% in 2022 alone, reaching approximately 98 MW. Moreover, the concentration of infrastructure among 13 prominent operators is on the rise, with these operators now accounting for almost 70% of all public chargers in Poland. GreenWay Polska holds the highest market share, followed by Orlen Charge, Tauron, Noxo, and EV+. Despite these advancements, the distribution of charging infrastructure remains uneven, with over half of all stations concentrated in cities with populations exceeding 100,000. 

The future development of infrastructure hinges largely on measures taken by public administration, and the industry is hopeful that the implementation of optimization measures could lead to a more than tenfold increase in newly installed charging points by 2025, reaching over 17,000, and culminating in a network of over 99,700 public charging points in Poland by 2030. 

Polish railway network 

With substantive EU funding, Poland is undergoing an overhaul of its railway network. If planned investments are implemented and necessary funding is provided by mid 2030s Poland should have one of the most advanced railway networks in the EU. 

PKP S.A. stands as the leading entity in Poland's railway market, overseeing the extensive railway infrastructure spanning approximately 19,312 kilometres today. The majority of these projects received funding through the EU Program Infrastructure and Environment between 2014 and 2020, with the EU investing over €8.6 billion for the modernization of Poland's railway system. Within this framework, plans are in place to create or enhance 14,484 kilometres of railway tracks and upgrade 500 trains. 

Looking ahead to the period of 2021-2030, the Polish railway sector is slated to receive approximately €63.6 billion for further development. Through the National Railway Program (KPK), a pivotal railway investment initiative in Poland, PKP PLK has outlined over 370 infrastructure projects valued at €15.3 billion, aiming to modernize more than 9,000 kilometres of railway tracks. Presently, projects totalling €2.2 billion have been finalized, with an additional €8.4 billion underway. Priority is placed on cargo routes, particularly those connecting the southern region to the northern seaport and those within major urban centres. Notable projects include the modernization of the southern cargo route Chorzow-Zdunska Wola (€840 million) and the enhancement of railway infrastructure linking seaports in Gdansk, Swinoujscie, and Gdynia (€1.3 billion). The program's objective is to increase average train speeds on 8,500 kilometres of rail tracks, as current speeds lag behind the EU average. 

The future of Polish railroads lies in intermodal transportation, yet hindered by slow cargo train speeds, which are double the EU average, and insufficient intermodal terminals. A significant investment endeavour in Poland is the Solidarity Transport Hub (STH), envisioning the construction of 1,800 kilometres of new railway lines by 2034. These routes, including 10 spokes leading to Warsaw and the STH, will be modernized and extended by PKP S.A. The STH Railway Program comprises 12 railway routes, forming part of 30 investment projects. Commencement of the first construction works started in 2023.  Upon completion, every major city in Poland will be directly connected to STH, with a target travel time under 2.5 hours. 

Buying a new vehicle in Poland: Market Trends and Consumer Behavior

Buying a new vehicle remains a privilege for Polish households, Poland is far below the European average in terms of new passenger car registrations. Buying a new vehicle is a privilege and a luxury purchase.  This in turn has implications for the transition to EVs, PHEVs and Hybrids as on average they are still more expensive than ICE cars, additionally, limited availability on the 2nd hand market, coupled with underdeveloped charging infrastructure and cultural and social aspects will make adoption more difficult. In 2022, Poland found itself at the bottom of European rankings in terms of newly registered EVs, only 2.9% (11,177) of the total number of newly registered passenger cars.

Micromobility and multimodality are becoming increasingly popular among Poles. In cities such as Warsaw, Krakow, Poznan, Gdansk, Lodz or Wroclaw, it is becoming more and more common to see various types of personal transportation. One of the most popular choices is the electric scooter. Rentals, which offer short-term rental of these vehicles, have become a common sight in the centres of most cities (they are currently available in about 90). Using e-scooters is not only an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional cars and taxis but also a way to avoid traffic jams and save time when travelling around the city. 

Bicycle rentals are also part of the micromobility development in Poland. By-the-minute rental systems are already in place in about 80 cities, encouraging residents and tourists to use this ecological, cheap and healthy form of transportation. In addition, electric scooters or small electric cars, which are ideal for commuting, are available on the Polish market – as part of carsharing platforms. As of the end of March 2023, almost 90,000 vehicles were registered in the Polish shared mobility market – in the self-service category. These figures include both two-wheelers and cars, which can be rented via mobile apps or directly from vehicle owners.

Polish Public Transportation Systems

Despite funds being dedicated towards the expansion of Poland's national bus network, since 2016 the service coverage decreased by 40%. However, in the context of more investment aimed at improving mobility, starting 2024 funding will be increased to €224.77 million for further improvements.   Polish commuters are close to the European average in terms of time spent. Roughly 5% of commuters work and live in the same space, 60% spend between 1-29 minutes commuting, 25% spend between 30-59 minutes and 10% spend 60 minutes or more.

In rural areas, public transport is typically facilitated through bus services that connect various towns. However, there was a notable shift in the early 1990s in Poland, characterized by a partial liberalization of the market and widespread motorization. This led to the fragmentation of the bus transport system, particularly with the division of the largest national bus company, PKS (Przedsiębiorstwo Komunikacji Samochodowej - Motor Transport Company), into numerous smaller companies. 

Environmental Impact and Emissions

Poland finds itself among the top CO2 emitters for newly registered passenger cars. While the European average was around 107.8g CO2/km, in Poland it reaches as high as 125g CO2/km. This is a direct result of the strong second market dominated by ICE and one of the oldest car populations in the EU with an average of 14.3 years. 

Economic and Social Implications

Poland finds itself below the European average when it comes to the environmental taxes on transport as a share of its GDP (EU average 0.42%), in 2021 it represented 0.23% of GDP.

The transport sector operates 19 factories and employs 397 thousand people, making Poland’s automotive sector 3rd largest in Europe.   Poland has had success in becoming a hub for the manufacture of electric vehicles and their components. In 2020, it became the EU’s largest exporter of electric buses, with Solaris – a Spanish-owned Polish manufacturer – Europe’s largest producer of such buses. In July 2022, SK Nexilis, a South Korean manufacturer of copper foil used in electric car batteries, inaugurated the construction of a factory in the southeastern Polish city of Stalowa Wola.

Best Practices and Case Studies of Polish Sustainable Automobility

The Solidarity Transport Hub (STH), based on four key pillars — connectivity, infrastructure, real estate, and modernization, comprises the following components: 

• Transportation Hub — Serving as the primary hub airport for Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and the principal transfer railway station for Poland. 
• New Rail System — Rail Component: Implementing a new traffic organization, introducing novel railway connections (including high-speed rail), and deploying new trains. 
• Aerotropolis — Real Estate Component: Establishing unparalleled conditions for residential, commercial, and recreational infrastructure in the vicinity of the airport. 
• Flywheel: Strategy and Development Component — Serving as a catalyst for economic growth, sustainable development, and innovation, fostering collaboration with various stakeholders. 

The New Rail system stemming from STH should emerge as a staple of European Railway infrastructure. Each major city in Poland will enjoy direct connectivity to STH, with the aim of achieving travel times under 2.5 hours. STH is set to become a pivotal hub within the long-distance train network. Furthermore, the new system will enhance connections to Poland's remote regions, which are presently isolated and heavily reliant on road transport. STH will also integrate with neighbouring countries, facilitating links to the primary economic hubs in Central and Eastern Europe, such as Vienna, Prague, Bratislava, and Budapest. We anticipate that the new railway system will cater to diverse travel needs and demand categories, offering a range of train categories including fast InterCity connections, as well as InterRegio and RegioExpress trains. 

Through the Smart Airports Horizon consortium, which includes STH, the project secured €12 million in funding to implement environmentally friendly solutions for Smart Airport design. Emphasizing electromobility, STH aims to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions from the aviation sector by integrating green infrastructure planning tools and electromobility applications into the Solidarity hub design. Leveraging state-of-the-art technologies, the goal is to minimize the carbon footprint to its lowest possible extent. 

Poland's Transportation Sector Future Perspectives and Emerging Trends

Poland's transportation sector is undergoing significant transformations, driven by ambitious initiatives and substantial investments. With support from the EU's Recovery and Resilience Plan, the country is directing significant funds towards green and smart mobility projects. These efforts include promoting electric vehicles through tax exemptions and subsidy programs, alongside investments in infrastructure development and technological advancements. Plans to expand the EV charging network, modernize railway systems, and improve road networks signal a commitment to enhancing connectivity, efficiency, and sustainability in transportation across the country.

Furthermore, Poland's focus on micromobility solutions and public transit improvements reflects a broader shift towards sustainable urban transportation modes. Investments in EV charging infrastructure, coupled with initiatives to reduce CO2 emissions from passenger cars, underscore the country's commitment to mitigating environmental impact while fostering economic growth. Continued efforts to integrate technological innovations, improve public transportation networks, and promote cleaner transportation options will play a crucial role in shaping the future of Poland's transportation landscape.

International Comparisons and Collaborations

Poland hosted the New Mobility Congress (KNM) 2023. KNM is the largest e-mobility and zero emission transport sector event in Central & Eastern Europe which will bring together industry leaders, researchers, government and administration representatives and all those interested in the future of mobility. One of the topics at this year’s Congress will include micromobility and multimodality as an integral part of the future transportation system in cities. Among other things, the KNM 2023 will present a “Strategy for the New Mobility Development” diagnosing 8 key challenges and containing a total of 15 recommendations for action, the introduction of which will allow the development of new forms of mobility in Polish local governments. During the conference, the “National Bicycle Strategy” project will also be launched. In addition, leading stakeholders and industry representatives will discuss the necessary regulatory changes to stimulate the development of the micromobility sector in Poland, as well as best practices in this area implemented in European cities. PSPA is proud that all those topics and other significant city transport issues will be addressed with the support of EIT Urban Mobility. 

Poland hosts an early Intelligent Transport System Congress (ITS), the largest and most significant gathering in Poland for the exchange of expertise and insights on ITS solutions. A key objective of the Congress is to foster collaboration within the intelligent transport solutions environment. Alongside substantive discussions, manufacturers and suppliers will deliver presentations showcasing devices and comprehensive ITS solutions. Representatives from leading companies in the ITS market will be available to explore the capabilities of these devices and discuss their integration with existing systems. This facilitates the development of systems from inception and the expansion of functionalities. Importantly, these solutions can be tailored to meet the specific needs and capabilities of implementing entities. The topics discussed at the congress encompass: protecting roads and road users from overloaded vehicles, addressing threats to infrastructure, road safety, and fair competition,  Mobility as a Service (MaaS), projects within the SmartCity Lab initiative by the ITS POLSKA Association, innovations in traffic management, use of artificial intelligence in transport solution, etc.