Building an electric car charging station with the 'My Electric' fund. What is worth knowing about it?
30 June 2022
Batteries in electric cars are the likely future of ground transport. Fully electric vehicles are increasingly appearing on Polish roads, both as private cars and in the role of so-called public transport. This is happening thanks to charging stations for electric cars, of which more and more are appearing. In order to increase the electromobility grid and interest in zero-emission cars on Polish roads, the government has implemented the 'My Electric' programme, which guarantees subsidies for vehicles and charging stations.
Building an electric car charging station - what formalities need to be met?
The construction of stations under the government programme includes infrastructure that provides for the creation of a charging station for captive use and publicly available chargers with a capacity of no less than 22 kW.
The amount of funding, in the form of a non-refundable grant, will be:
- Up to 25% of eligible costs in the case of the construction of a charging station serving the batteries in electric cars, which will be for own use only or will not be used as a publicly accessible station providing charging services.
- Up to 30 per cent of eligible costs for the construction or conversion of a publicly accessible station with a capacity of between 50 and 150 kW and equipped with at least one point guaranteeing DC charging with a capacity of not less than 50 kW.
In addition, funding of up to 45% is allowed for a publicly accessible station, provided that the municipality in which it is placed meets one of the following requirements (as at 31 December of the calendar year preceding the year in which the application is submitted):
- less than 60 000 cars were registered;
- There were fewer than 400 cars per 1,000 inhabitants;
- the population of the municipality was less than 100 000.
Requirements for the construction of a public charging station for electric cars
The total amount earmarked for funding is PLN 870 million and is divided into several smaller disbursements targeting specific activities:
- The government has provided funding of up to £315m for the construction or redevelopment of public charging stations that allow 50-150kW DC charging.
- Up to £70m will go to those building charging stations that are other than public charging stations, with a capacity of at least 22 kW.
- A further 70 million is to be allocated for the construction of charging points that are not intended to provide a charging service, with a capacity of no less than 22 kW.
- PLN 100 million is to be used to build or rebuild already existing, publicly accessible hydrogen stations.
- The programme also envisages earmarking PLN 315 million for the construction and redevelopment of publicly accessible stations providing DC charging services with a minimum capacity of 150 kW.
Furthermore, with the above distribution, it is assumed that 20% of the funds will be allocated to SMEs during the 2021-2024 call; if the budget is not exhausted by then, additional calls are foreseen, with no guaranteed budget for SMEs.
Who can build their own electric car charging station?
Due to the removal of the obligation for electric car charging stations to be built by energy companies, a point of this type can be set up by many, even private car users, under several conditions. One of these is that the price of the electric vehicle charging station can be covered.
In addition, the 'Support for electric vehicle charging and hydrogen refuelling infrastructure' programme will benefit entrepreneurs, cooperatives, local government units, individual farmers and housing communities that decide to build charging stations for electric cars. This means that those in the above-mentioned groups with batteries in their electric cars can apply for funding to build a charging station for private use or to provide services.
The application period will last until 31.12.2025, the grant period for investors will last until 15.12.2028.
What is needed to build an electric car charging station?
Wondering how much a charging station costs? The price of a fast charging station for electric cars, is small compared to building a standard petrol station. The construction of a point for combustion engine cars is associated with expenses in the range of 5-10 million PLN. The cost of building a charging station for electric cars is around PLN 100 000. As with the construction of a fossil fuel station, the price of an electric vehicle charging station includes the cost of the paperwork involved in setting it up. In addition to construction and surveying documents, the creation of a charging point for electric car batteries must also be reported to the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Register.
If you still have doubts or questions about the price of an electric car charging point, the expenses of energy procurement or the cost of building an electric vehicle charging station, it is worth taking a look at the gov.pl website. You will find information under the tab of the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management, responsible for the introduction of the subsidy programme and monitoring of environmental quality. A set of questions and answers has been prepared, related to the co-financing and construction of new electric vehicle charging stations.
