In 2030, the European Union may introduce a ban on the purchase of internal combustion engine vehicles for companies, including individual entrepreneurs. This initiative is opposed by both the Polish government and some Members of the European Parliament, as reported by Euronews.
According to information published by the Polish publication Rzeczpospolita, European companies may be required to switch to electric vehicles within five years starting from 2030. The European Commission is expected to present the relevant legislation as part of the initiatives announced on December 10.
This bill will apply to all companies, including car rental and leasing, and implies that business clients will have to abandon internal combustion engine vehicles five years before a complete ban on their sale, which is planned to be introduced in the EU by 2035.
At a recent conference in Warsaw, representatives of the Polish government, Members of the European Parliament, and business leaders discussed the potential impact of the new legislation on business and the energy transition. Konrad Wojnowski, Deputy Secretary of State at the Polish Ministry of Energy, noted that supporting decarbonization goals is important; however, they must be realistic and take into account business interests. He emphasized the need to create a system of incentives instead of rigid mandates, which should apply to the entire climate and energy policy.
Mandatory electric vehicles for businesses: consequences
Marcin Balicki, Chairman of the Polish Leasing Association, highlighted key economic and infrastructure barriers to implementing the new rules. According to him, there needs to be a discussion on ways to increase the share of zero-emission vehicles, as current regulations do not address existing problems. He pointed out the lack of electric vehicle production in Europe, which leads to high prices, as well as the insufficient number of charging stations at major workplaces and in large cities.
Member of the European Parliament Dariusz Joński (EPP member) also expressed concerns about the potential consequences for small companies and individual entrepreneurs, warning of rising costs and decreased competitiveness. He emphasizes that such profound changes require flexibility, dialogue, and a prolonged transition period.
"The obligations to procure zero-emission vehicles for leasing companies and fleets may create a significant burden for entrepreneurs, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises, which could threaten their liquidity and competitiveness," added Dariusz Joński.
Anna Bryłka, Member of the European Parliament (member of the PfE group in the EP), noted that the form of the final legislation depends on the start of a broad discussion on this issue. She emphasized that early discussions can influence the content of legislation that has not yet become official, unlike already adopted legislation, which is difficult to change.
The situation with electric vehicles in Poland and Europe
In Poland, the share of electric vehicles among newly registered vehicles in the first three quarters of this year was only 6.4%. In other countries, such as the Czech Republic (5.6%), Italy (5.2%), and Slovakia (4.5%), this figure is even lower. Denmark leads in the number of registered electric vehicles in Europe with a rate of 66.5%, while the Netherlands and Belgium also show over 30% electric vehicles among registered vehicles.
