Abstract:

A number of studies have analyzed the opportunities and challenges for the development of alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) market in various countries from various perspectives, such as social acceptance and consumers' preferences or supporting policies and market growth. A holistic approach regarding the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) of the sector of AFVs in Poland, with particular regard to passenger electric vehicles (EVs), has been proposed to explore and evaluate the current state and to propose some future actions lines towards sustainable development in transportation. The most important problems faced currently by the Polish EVs market include unstable and unclear regulations that may discourage both: producers and buyers from engaging in this market segment. Secondly, the much higher prices of EVs in comparison to the conventional vehicles together with many unsolved issues with the batteries and charging stations belong to the most significant barriers of adoption. The formulated portfolio of actions towards enabling sustainable development of transportation in the segment of passenger vehicles proposes the implementation of mini-maxi strategy that would minimize the current weaknesses by maximizing the potential opportunities of the market. The conducted SWOT analysis conclude that currently Polish AFV market, with a special focus on EVs, needs first of all WO strategy to minimize the current shortcomings by strengthening the opportunities in technical, economic & social, as well as environmental and legislative environment.