The European Commission has found Polish plans to invest into electric charging and hydrogen-refuelling infrastructure for zero and low emission vehicles to be in line with EU State aid rules. The measure will contribute to reducing CO2 and other pollutant emissions without unduly distorting competition in the Single Market, in line with the Commission’s Green Deal objectives.
Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, said: “This €173 million Polish scheme will promote alternative fuels and encourage consumers to use greener vehicles, without unduly distorting competition. This will contribute to the reduction of harmful emissions, in line with the European Green Deal’s objective.”
The objective of the scheme is to create a comprehensive network of charging infrastructure along both local and trans-European (TEN-T) roads.
The scheme will have a budget of approximately €173 million covering the period from 2021 to 2025. The measure consists of two parts: (i) €151 million (PLN 700 million) will be allocated to investments into recharging stations for electric motor vehicles, with a focus on fast charging stations and charging infrastructure outside of cities; and (ii) €22 million (PLN 100 million) will be allocated to the construction of publicly accessible hydrogen refuelling stations, as part of a pilot project. The objective of the pilot project is to collect market and business data on the hydrogen-fuelled mobility sector in Poland.