Abstract:

Poland is one of the largest passenger car markets in Europe by sales. Poland’s passenger car fleet is currently dominated by combustion engine cars. Air quality in Polish cities is among the poorest in the EU. In 2017, Poland ranked second-to-last among the EU-28 countries, exceeding the particulate matter (PM2.5) concentration limit of 20 μg/m3.  To meet carbon dioxide (CO2) emission targets set by the EU, improve local air quality, and boost the economy, the Polish government is committed to promoting the electrification of its vehicle fleet. This study provides an overview of policy measures adopted by the national government and local authorities to transition towards electric vehicles. The focus is on passenger cars, which are responsible for 61% of total CO2 emissions from road transport in Europe. The Polish national government has adopted a variety of policies to drive the electrification of its vehicle fleet. At local levels, authorities are increasingly using their power to spur electric vehicle adoption yet with different approaches. Over the past years, the Polish government has published and adopted a number of strategic plans and legal frameworks and provided funding and incentives to support the uptake of electric vehicles in the country.