Katowice is the first city in Poland that has fulfilled the obligations included in the Act on Electromobility and Alternative Fuels signed in 2018.
The Act was intended to improve Poland’s energy security, while the choice of electromobility was a strategic choice that would have reduced dependence on oil imports. It provides for a system of incentives in Poland, including the abolition of excise tax on electric cars and plug-in hybrids, exemption from parking fees, larger depreciation write-offs for companies. It also includes building a base infrastructure network for alternative fuels in agglomerations, densely populated areas and along trans-European road transport corridors, which will allow free movement of vehicles powered by these fuels.
In urban areas exceeding 150,000 citizens, the number of charging stations to build by the end 2020 was meant to be 100 and Katowice has already fulfilled such obligation with 115 charging points already operating, 86 of them built by energy holding company TAURON.
“Katowice is a leader in the field of electromobility,” said the town’s mayor Marcin Krupa. “And its innovative approach is appreciated for many reasons, including ecological ones. We bought the first electric car in 2012. Today we know that electric vehicles are playing an increasingly important role in our lives, which is why we are also developing a base of electric vehicle charging stations in the city.”
In particular, the TAURON network consists of 40 stations, including five stations charged with direct current and 35 powered with alternating current. The AC charging station consists of two charging points, while the DC station consists up to four points, thus meaning that currently TAURON operates 86 charging points.
Filip Grzegorczyk, president of the board of TAURON, said that the development of electromobility projects is in line with the company’s sustainable strategy.
“The example of Katowice, where we built a charging infrastructure and launched a car-sharing service, shows that we are a reliable and competent partner for local governments with comprehensive solutions in the field of e-mobility,” he said.
