A project has been launched thanks to which local governments can receive charging stations

On June 6, a groundbreaking initiative was introduced in the leasing sector, marking the launch of the first nationwide grant program aimed at local governments. Named “Together for Eco-Change,” this project is centered around the establishment and upkeep of an electric vehicle charging station network. Spearheading the program’s execution are the Santander Bank Polska Foundation and Santander Leasing, while collaboration has been extended to GreenWay Polska and the Polish Alternative Fuels Association (PSPA).

The competition’s focus is on providing comprehensive funding for the construction of at least 16 electric vehicle charging stations, along with their maintenance for a duration of two years. An allocated budget of PLN 1 million has been designated for this purpose. The program is open to all local government units with populations not exceeding 100,000 residents as of the competition’s announcement date.

Krzysztof Kowalewski, Vice-President of the Management Board of Santander Leasing, underlines the significance of addressing concerns regarding the availability of charging stations for electric car users. Particularly in areas outside of major highways and bustling urban centers. Kowalewski asserts the aim of this initiative within the leasing industry is to enhance the Polish electromobility network by “filling in the gaps,” thereby alleviating these concerns. He believes this initiative will contribute to boosting the adoption of electric vehicles, leading to reduced exhaust emissions and noise pollution in both metropolitan and smaller areas.

Marzena Atkielska, President of the Board of the Santander Foundation, explains the organization’s established collaborations with local governments over the years and highlights the current project tailored specifically for them. This initiative aligns well with the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategy of the Santander Bank Polska Group, which involves supporting clients in their environmentally conscious transformations and actively promoting eco-friendly endeavors. Following the success of the foundation’s “Here I Live, Here I Change EKO” grant program initiated in 2020, this new initiative further strengthens their commitment to ecological causes.

Forecasted dynamic growth of Polish electromobility

Rafał Czyżewski, President of GreenWay Polska, enthusiastically shares their positive experiences collaborating with local governments, exemplified by their involvement in establishing city chargers in Katowice. He emphasizes that local governments can play a pivotal role as leaders of change in the energy transformation journey. Czyżewski points out that these governmental bodies possess valuable insights into local conditions, enabling the creation of tailor-made local infrastructure to meet the needs of their residents.

According to the latest edition of the “Polish EV Outlook” report by the Polish Alternative Fuels Association, the total number of all-electric cars (including passenger cars and vans) registered in Poland is projected to nearly reach one million by 2030. The report also highlights the anticipated expansion of Poland’s public charging infrastructure network, growing from around 5,000 charging points to nearly 100,000 by 2030.

Between 2019 and 2022, the count of publicly available charging stations in Poland witnessed a significant growth of approximately 2.5 times. However, a substantial 56% concentration of this infrastructure is found in larger urban centers with over 100,000 residents. To accelerate the development of the electric vehicle fleet across different regions of the country, Maciej Mazur, Managing Director of PSPA, underscores the need to diversify the charger locations. This diversification is pivotal to driving electric vehicle adoption in various parts of Poland, a goal that can be supported by local governments from smaller towns actively participating in projects like the one recently launched.

PSPA’s analyses reveal a notable trend in electric vehicle registration, where the majority of registrations come from companies. In 2022, a significant 78% of new all-electric passenger cars were registered by entrepreneurs (excluding sole proprietorships). This figure reflects an 8% increase compared to the previous year’s registrations.

The expanding role of lessors in financing investments within the electric vehicle sector is corroborated by recent data from Santander Leasing. According to their findings, by mid-May of this year, the dynamics of electric vehicle financing granted by the company surged by an impressive 144% compared to 2017. This underscores the growing momentum and interest in financing investments within this vehicle segment.

This begs the question: will the growth of charging stations in 2022 follow a similar upward trajectory? The potential for such growth is significant, with an anticipated increase of up to 140%. The figures highlight the parallel momentum between the expanding electric vehicle adoption and the crucial charging infrastructure necessary to support it.

Regions with the highest rate of electromobility

The adoption of electromobility continues to be concentrated predominantly in the largest urban areas. Insights from the latest “Polish EV Outlook 2023” report underscore this trend, indicating that nearly 22% of the entire Polish fleet of electric cars is registered in Warsaw. The capital city also accounted for over 21% of new Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) registrations in 2022. Approximately 26% of the total all-electric car fleet was registered in cities with populations ranging from 300,000 to 1 million inhabitants, including Kraków, Łódź, Wrocław, Poznań, Gdańsk, Szczecin, Bydgoszcz, and Lublin.

In terms of financing, analysis from Santander Leasing reveals the top five voivodships (administrative regions) where entrepreneurs are financing the most electric vehicles. These regions are Mazowieckie, Wielkopolskie, Dolnośląskie, Małopolskie, and Pomorskie. This data highlights both the geographic concentration and the significant role of entrepreneurs in driving the adoption of electric vehicles across various regions in Poland.

Source: Santander Foundation press release