Alternative for liquid fuels. ECO solution? The future of the automotive industry? What are the advantages of buying and having electric car in Poland? I invite you to read my new article, in which I will cover:
- Statistics about Electric cars – TOP 10 and total
- Green registration plates
- Privileges for Electric Cars drivers
- Subsidies for buying Electric Car
- Is Electric car really ECO?
A little bit of statistics
Electromobility in Poland is still in its infancy, and its development is not helped by the lack of a functioning subsidy programs. Nevertheless, the number of electric cars in our country is systematically (though slowly) growing. Of course, this amount is still nothing to compare with regular used car or car powered by LPG.
According to the latest information presented by experts from the Samar Automotive Market Research Institute, based on the data from the Central Vehicle Register (Centralna Ewidencja Pojazdów), there are currently 20,959 “plug-in” cars registered in Poland, including 10,010 electric cars and 10,949 plug-in hybrids.
Top 5 most popular electric cars in Poland:
- Nissan Leaf (1814)
- BMW i3 (1594)
- Renault Zoe (652)
- Skoda Citigo (522)
- Tesla Model S (490)
Top 5 most popular plug-in hybrids in Poland:
- Mitsubishi Outlander (981)
- BMW serii 3 (900)
- BMW serii 5 (625)
- Volvo XC90 (574)
- Skoda Superb (545)
Green registration plates – what is it all about?
Green registration plates are a visually new version of the standard plates installed in vehicles – but intended only for owners of electric and hydrogen cars.
From 1 January 2020, each owner of a newly registered car with electric and hydrogen drive receives such a plate. Apart from the green color, they are identical to the standard board. The voivodship designation system, i.e. the letters and numbers placed on the board, are also analogous to those for standard vehicles. The distinguishing element is the green background of the board and the verification mark placed on it.
The sign with a red border is given to owners of electric cars, and with a yellow one – hydrogen cars. The sign placed on the new plates in this way replaces the stickers for windshields, which have been issued so far to the owners of such vehicles. The legislator introduced changes to make identification of an electric or hydrogen vehicle easier. The stickers used so far were hardly visible.
Privileges for Electric Car in Poland
Driving on the bus lane
In large cities, we often find separate lanes for buses. Thanks to this, public transport vehicles can avoid traffic jams, which is especially important during rush hours. Except buses, bus lanes can be used as well by taxis, motorbikes and electric cars.
Electric car drivers can also use bus lanes. Which means, that you can avoid traffic jam if you are driving electric car. This is an important argument, especially if you drive a lot in the city. However, you need to remember, that appropriate marking is required. Such a vehicle must have a green plate or a previously valid (until the end of 2019) blue sticker with the symbol “EE” affixed to the windshield.
Free parking
Parking in a city center is paid. Deeper in the center, price got higher. If we leave the car in the unguarded paid parking zone, we should pay the appropriate fee at the parking meter. Electric vehicles marked with green plates or a blue sticker on the windshield (issued until the end of 2019) are exempt from this obligation. This is due to the “act on electromobility” (ustawa o elektromobilności). This is a great convenience for drivers, because not only do they not have to look for parking meters, but also do not have to watch the time paid and, if necessary, extend the time of parking. After introducing clean transport zones in the centers of Polish cities, the possibility of entering areas closed to internal combustion vehicles will also be added to the list of privileges.
Clean transport zones
Following the example of other countries, we also have the possibility of establishing the so-called clean transport zones (strefa czystego transportu), but only in the center of the cities, with more than 100,000 citizens. These zones should not allow the movement of vehicles powered by traditional fuels, but only vehicles powered by hydrogen and natural gas, as well as electric vehicles. The deprivation of the possibility of moving within the zone does not apply to people living “in the zone” with light vehicles, which means up to 3.5 tons.
The implementation of a clean transport zone is not automatic but depends on the decision of the respective city council. What’s more, the local government may adopt additional restrictions on entering the zone. The commune may (but does not have to) decide that for a maximum period of three years from the adoption of the resolution on the establishment of a clean transport zone, entry to it for excepted vehicles will be possible for an additional fee.
Here it should be noted that so far it is mainly a promise. On the moment of writing this article, there are no “Clean Transport Zones” in Poland. Kraków tried to implement such zone in Kazimierz district, but finally they stepped out from such idea following the conclusions of both: residents and pressure from entrepreneurs operating in the zone.
Subsidies for buying Electric Car in Poland
In 2020, the “Green Car” program was launched. Private persons buying a new (which means previously unregistered) electric car could count on a subsidy of up to 15% the value of the car but not more than 18 750 zł and the cost of purchasing the car could not exceed 125 000 zł.
The limit of 125 000 zl significantly narrowed the pool of cars that got subsidies. People who bought the following models could count on co-financing:
- Nissan Leaf;
- Smart EQ fortwo or EQ forfour;
- Volkswagen Group electric triplets – e-up !;
- Opel Corsa-e;
- Peugeot e-208;
- Renault ZOE.
On this moment, we are still waiting for official announcement about program dedicated for regular private person in year 2021. I will update this article with the same, as soon as such information will be released.
Is Electric car really ECO?
Are electric cars greener than cars powered by regular fuel? For several years, there has been a debate among motoring fans whether electric cars are really environmentally friendly. It turns out that cars powered by compressed natural gas (CNG not LPG) are more ecological than electricians – according to the analysis conducted by the German automobile club ADAC in cooperation with the research institute Joanneum Research and the FIA World Automobile Association. How is this possible?
Electric cars are largely powered by electricity generated from lignite and hard coal. In addition, the production of batteries used in electrics intensively contributes to the formation of greenhouse gases, which are reduced only during the operation of the car! Which means, that electric car starts which much worse energy balance than regular car powered by regular fuel at the moment of driving out from dealer. According to the calculations of German ADAC:
- an electric car achieves a better energy balance only after 8.5 years of operation or after driving 127,500 km (!) than a gasoline engine,
- compared to diesel, this period is increased to 14 years and 6 months or to cover 219,000 km,
- a car powered by natural gas and hydrogen is more environmentally friendly than an electric car throughout its life cycle.
However, the ADAC analysis shows that the situation would be quite the opposite if electric car batteries were only 100% charged with energy from renewable sources. Then, electrics would be more environmentally friendly than petrol engines after 37,500 km, diesel after 40,500 km, and natural gas cars after 48,000 km. Interestingly, hydrogen-powered vehicles would be by far the greenest if their fuel was also 100% renewable.
Summary
However, I fully support an idea of eco driving. I am just asking myself if electrical cars are the real future. Are we standing at the beginning of new era for engines or is it just a temporary fashion? What is your opinion? I encourage you to share your point of view in the comments via blog window below.
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wyborkierowcow.pl; samar.pl; mubi.pl/poradnik; rankomat.pl. adac.de
Source
5 Comments
Baz · 07/05/2021 at 18:01
1. Not enough charging points, cars have too little range c.400km
2, Most electric created via burning coal
3. No information on how long the batteries will last, what happens to the old batteries, toxic waste.
4. What about the child miners in Africa, mining for Cobalt for all these batteries.
5. Energy balance after 5+ years!
You may be able to tell I`m not a fan, I think politically driven.. thank you very interesting.
Mateusz · 12/05/2021 at 05:54
Hi Baz,
Thank you for your very detailed comment. Indeed, you do not sound like a fan
These are also my points abouts electric cars. I am more curious about the future of it, since all the bigger car manufacturers declare to switch into electric engines model only, in the next 15-20 years. If all of the “biggest brains” from moto companies will stay focus on electric cars… who knows? I would like to be positively surprised.
Mister · 12/01/2023 at 18:48
Hi, thanks for this info. Any update in 2023?
Mateusz · 02/02/2023 at 05:43
Hi Mister, not really. Not much really changed from the law perspective for electric cars in Poland in 2023.
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