Poland wants to massively subsidise electric trucks, Slovakia risks losing market

Car hauliers will lose markets if we cannot help them to buy green vehicles.

Poland, which currently accounts for 27% of freight transport performance in the European Union’s internal market, is raising the bar to a whole new level with its proposal for a subsidy scheme for zero-emission transport. Conversely, Slovak road hauliers, which cover around 3% of this market, face the risk of further reductions in deliveries if Slovakia fails to help them promptly with adequate support for the purchase of new environmentally friendly vehicles.

In the context of the current dynamics of the transition to more environmentally friendly forms of transport in Europe, Poland’s latest initiative deserves our special attention. The scheme to support the purchase of zero-emission trucks and the construction of public charging parks (hubs) for eHDVs, which is already awaiting final approval in our northern neighbours, may represent a major step forward for the entire Polish freight transport sector. With a total budget of up to PLN 3 billion (almost EUR 700 million), this scheme sets new standards for the promotion of green freight transport, which we can take inspiration from here.

We are already registering the interest of major freight forwarders in low-emission or completely emission-free transport, including in our region. The ability to meet such demands will be essential for the whole sector in the long term and a decisive factor for the existence of some carriers today. However, the conditions for the implementation of emission-free transport are currently very challenging: the purchase price of an emission-free vehicle is significantly higher and the carriers do not have the necessary charging infrastructure. To overcome these barriers and gain the ability to compete in the tough competition, short-term state support is therefore necessary to create comparable conditions for Slovak carriers.

In the meantime, the Poles are already waiting for the approval of a subsidy programme under which they will distribute PLN 1 billion to ‘catch up’ with the prices of electric trucks and invest another PLN 2 billion in building charging infrastructure, not only public but also private (in depots, logistics centres, etc.).

The benefits of emission-free vehicles on the road are also currently being extended by the gradual implementation of the 2022/362 EU directive, also known as the Eurovignette. The Eurovignette also takes into account the vehicle’s emission footprint when calculating motorway tolls. As a result, trucks with conventional propulsion and a higher emission footprint face a substantial increase in toll charges (up to 83% in Germany, for example). Non-emission vehicles are favoured and temporarily exempted from the charges altogether. This generates significant financial savings on the side of emission-free vehicles, thus substantially increasing their competitiveness.


Proposal for a subsidy programme for emission-free trucks in Poland

The programme, with a budget of PLN 3 billion (almost EUR 700 million), financed by the Modernisation Fund with the participation of the European Investment Bank (EIB), is currently awaiting approval. Under the proposed parameters, the eligible vehicle categories will be N2 and N3, with the difference in purchase price between internal combustion vehicles and battery electric vehicles being the basis for determining the level of support. This structure of the scheme is key as it does not require formal notifications, which should significantly reduce the time needed to implement it. Support will be granted for both purchases and leases, giving companies the flexibility to choose the optimal financing method. One third of the budget is earmarked for the purchase of vehicles. The remaining two billion zlotys will support the construction of charging infrastructure, with up to 100% of eligible costs reimbursed for publicly accessible charging stations. These can be located in distribution centres (depots), but should preferably be built along the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), which will support the creation of a coherent charging infrastructure across the country and allow for more efficient and greener logistics.


In order to protect and ideally strengthen the position of Slovak hauliers, it will be essential for our government to take inspiration from the example of Poland (Austria, Germany, the Czech Republic…) and introduce a similar subsidy scheme for the acquisition of zero-emission trucks in our country as soon as possible. Measures should include not only direct financial support for purchase or leasing, but also investment in building the necessary infrastructure. The support should be structured in such a way that it is accessible to companies of different sizes, but with an emphasis on small and medium-sized companies, which make up a significant part of the Slovak freight transport sector. Furthermore, it is critically important that measures include support for the construction and reconstruction of public charging stations for freight transport, with a particular focus on the main transport corridors, so that hauliers can use their zero-emission vehicles efficiently not only for national but also for international transport.

Implementing these measures as quickly as possible is essential not only to maintain the competitiveness of Slovak carriers, but also to support a broader transition to greener transport in line with the European Union’s sustainable transport andCO2 reduction targets. Large transport contracting authorities are already requiring emission-free vehicles in tenders, as they have started to monitor their own emissions, including those from transport, accurately. If our truckers do not have zero-emission vehicles, they may run into serious problems in tenders, as contracting authorities prefer low- or zero-emission fleets.

The Slovak Electromobility Association prepared and published a major report on the Electrification of Road Freight Transport last October. This comprehensive document provides a thorough overview of the current state of the art in this area at home and abroad, a set of recommendations based on the experience of developed electrified countries, an analysis of the challenges, but also of the necessary legislative measures towards a more sustainable future in the field of heavy commercial transport. We warned at the time that the alarming finding was a threat to Slovak hauliers, who may soon face a loss of competitiveness, which has since only been increased by the introduction of freight support schemes in other European countries. SEVA’s report on Electrification of Road Freight Transport is intended to serve as a guide on the way to better understanding and implementing electrification in a sector that has traditionally been very important for Slovakia. Through a combination of government incentives, infrastructure development and support from the business sector, Slovakia can effectively respond to the challenges and seize the opportunities presented by the transformation to zero-emission freight transport.

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