Poland Automotive Decarbonization of heavy road transport
Heavy road transport is an important sector of the Polish economy. It is also a major source of greenhouse gas emissions. The European Union is pursuing ambitious zero-emissions targets in its climate policy, and the sector in Poland will need to undergo a transformation in order to remain competitive.
A report prepared by the Electric Vehicle Promotion Foundation, entitled “Challenges and opportunities for the electrification of heavy road transport in Poland,” analyzes the situation in this market and proposes solutions that need to be undertaken to achieve this goal.
By 2030, total cost of ownership of electric trucks will be lower than diesel vehicles, so electrification of heavy- duty vehicles is crucial if Polish companies want to remain competitive. But electrification of heavy-duty transport in Poland should be seen as part of a wider transformation of the entire system of transportation. Electrification of road transport is hindered by limited resources truck companies have for investments. These are mainly micro and small enterprises. At the same time the investment needs of the market are high.
The potential for electrification of the fleet in Poland is high, although it is still in the initial stage, and the market is dominated by vehicles with diesel engines. The largest segment of the market consists of very heavy vehicles (over 30t of gross vehicle weight), but vehicles of 3.5-10t are an important part of the market as well. It should encourage the electrification of transport, since they are easier to replace technologically.
On average, Polish carriers use older vehicles than in the rest of the European Union, they also buy used vehicles from other countries in Europe. This could be an opportunity for companies offering retrofitting services, converting vehicles with diesel engines to run on batteries. This is another aspect of the market which might accelerate the transformation to zero-emission transportation.
What is needed is a supply of technologies, which could be used for production allowing for economies of scale and return on investments. The development of an electric truck market will require appropriate charging infrastructure, different from the infrastructure for electric cars. It will require stable regulatory framework, cooperation of entities in the sector and solutions to legal issues resulting from technical requirements for the charging stations.
In addition to the decarbonization efforts on the European Union level, additional instruments should be introduced on the national level. At this point, there are no provisions in strategic documents in Poland directly related to decarbonization of trucks. However, stricter emission standards and support for the development of zero-emission trucks are part of a broader framework of national strategic documents. It is important to create a system of support for Polish transport companies in replacing their fleets and promoting investments in charging infrastructure.
The U.S. Commercial Service Poland recommends that U.S. companies follow the developments in this area. Poland is at the beginning of this transformation, so it is an opportunity for U.S. tech companies and startups to introduce their innovative solutions directly into supply chains. For more information, please contact U.S. Commercial Service Poland at office.warsaw@trade.gov