Development of Poland’s e-mobility

Investments in electric mobility allow PKN ORLEN to cover the costs of emission charges without passing them on to customers.

The Group is expanding its programme for constructing EV charging points. PKN ORLEN has identified a total of 150 service stations located both in towns and cities and along transport routes. As part of the first stage of the pilot project, around 50 fast charging points will be rolled-out by the end of 2019.
Electric mobility is a key development opportunity for the Group. The company is a major energy producer and has a modern petrochemical segment, whose products will be crucial for transport based on alternative fuels. There are also regulatory issues, such as the emission charge, which is intended to support electric mobility and which the Group sees as an investment in the development of the alternative fuel market. It drives its investments in this market segment, which will bring measurable business benefits in the future. This is one of the reasons why PLN ORLEN will not pass on the costs of the emission charge to the customers.
By engaging in e-mobility, PKN ORLEN plans to maximise the business opportunities resulting from the law on biofuels. In accordance with its previous declarations, PKN ORLEN will not pass on the costs of the emission charge to drivers and sees them as an investment supporting the development of the alternative fuel market. We recognise new business opportunities for the Group, as it has a well-established energy sector and a modern petrochemical arm, an important source of products for vehicles powered by alternative fuels.
The Group promptly responds to changes on the global market and the growing popularity of alternative engines. New technologies and all elements of the prospective innovative energy infrastructure are a promising business domain. Therefore, it is particularly important for the company to assume a leading position in this segment right at the start, which why it has decided to expand the pilot programme and nearly doubled the number of planned stations. But it has not said the last word yet, because the Group is pursuing growth in this area and sees some potential for an even stronger engagement in e-mobility development in the long term. These efforts will allow it to address new customer expectations, and they are also consistent with the development programme for the Polish economy.

stacja ładowania Tesla Orlen


The pilot programme is in line with the Group’s strategy based on adapting the retail chain to alternative fuel distribution. As part of the project run until 2019, EV drivers will be able to cross the entire territory of Poland using the main transport routes and charging their vehicles on ORLEN stations. 50 kW and 100kW quick charging points will be deployed by companies selected in the tender procedure, which is in its final stage. The proposed charging points will be suitable for all electric vehicle types available on the European market. They will all be equipped with two DC charging connectors supporting the CHAdeMO and CCS standards, as well as a Type 2 connector for AC charging. A 50 kW DC fast charging station can charge EV batteries from 20 percent to 80 percent of their full capacity within 20-30 minutes. Specific locations will be provided later on in the investment programme.
The first charger in the pilot programme has already been set up in Płock, near the Group’s headquarters. The 50 kW charging station is designed for both electric (EV) and hybrid (PHEV) vehicles and can charge up to four cars at a time. The power supply for each station is allocated dynamically by the station controller during charging, which significantly reduces the charging time. The modular design of the device enables the potential expansion of the DC charging station by up to 150 kW in the same casing. Currently, the project is undergoing a series of tests, which will verify the IT solutions, station functionality, maintenance, and day-to-day operation in the near future. Before the end of 2018, the station will be made available to motorists who, during the first stage of the Company’s pilot programme, will be able to charge their vehicles for free. The charging stations will be constructed by ORLEN Serwis.
As part of other projects involving alternative fuels, selected ORLEN stations already operate charging points for Tesla electric cars in Poland (in Kostomłoty, Katowice, and Ciechocinek) as well as in Germany (Grimmen in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Uckerfelde in Brandenburg). In the Czech Republic, the Company also plans to roll out a charger network at Benzina stations. Today, there is one charging point on the Czech market, located in Vrchlabi. The ORLEN network also sells other types of alternative fuels. Last year saw the pilot launch of the first refuelling point for hydrogen-powered cars at the Group’s German station operating under the Star brand in Mülheim, with further efforts to be taken this year. Moreover, 35 (out of 406) Benzina stations located in the Czech Republic sell CNG.

Around 50 quick-charging points will be launched by the end of 2019.