Despite having the largest fleet of heavy-duty vehicles in the European Union, the number of electric lorry registrations in Poland in 2024 fell well below expectations, placing the country in tenth position among EU member states. Currently, there are only around one hundred electric lorries across Poland, and comparisons with other EU nations reveal a stark contrast. Polish roads see, on average, a quarter of the number of electric lorries in Spain, a seventh of those in the Netherlands, and fewer than 3% of those registered in Germany.
To bridge this gap and maintain its leading position in transport, which accounts for 6-7% of the country’s GDP, Poland has introduced a significant incentive programme to encourage the adoption of electric lorries. The scheme is worth 480 million euros and forms part of a broader initiative that includes subsidies of up to 1.4 billion euros, financed by the European Investment Bank (EIB), aimed at developing charging stations, infrastructure, and power grids.
The programme was announced by the Deputy Minister of Climate and Environment, who invited transport operators to submit applications from the second half of March 2025. The incentives apply to N2 category vehicles (weighing between 3.5 and 12 tonnes) and N3 category vehicles (weighing over 12 tonnes) and can also be used for lease-based acquisitions.
The total amount allocated to each company depends on the category and price of the vehicle purchased, as well as the size of the fleet, with specific provisions favouring small and medium-sized enterprises. In the best-case scenario, the subsidy will provide up to 180,000 euros per vehicle. Considering that a high-end electric lorry currently costs around 300,000 euros, this support could reduce the price of an N3 electric lorry to approximately 120,000 euros—comparable to the cost of a well-configured diesel vehicle.
In addition to these subsidies, the EIB has allocated 465 million euros to support the construction of public charging stations for heavy transport. At least 80% of this fund will be directed towards subsidies for chargers along the Trans-European Transport Network, while the remaining 20% will support charging stations at logistics centres and intermodal terminals along the key TEN-T routes.
The funds will be available until 2029, with financing awarded through competitive tenders based on criteria such as project effectiveness, implementation timelines, and material efficiency. Additional funds have also been allocated to the construction and expansion of power grids to accommodate the increased energy demand resulting from the transition to electric mobility.
Currently, Poland's transport sector employs around 750,000 people, but analysts predict that the economic impact of these investments will be substantial, potentially creating up to 10,000 new jobs by 2030. The growing number of electric lorries could lead to an increase in vehicle and battery production, greater digitalisation, and the development of new fleet management software, as well as increased workforce demand within public energy infrastructure.
The Polish government and the EIB intend to generate a ripple effect that will drive innovation across key sectors such as automotive, technology, and energy, with a strong focus on renewable sources. By doing so, Poland could position itself as the EU’s leading hub for electric technology, attracting further investment, creating high-skilled job opportunities, and accelerating the transition towards a green and sustainable economy.
Marco Martinelli
