ORLEN launches its first modern fast-charging hub for electric vehicles. A dozen more to open by year-end

The new ORLEN Charge hub enables the simultaneous charging of up to eight vehicles and is equipped with a dynamic power-sharing system ensuring optimal charging power and time at each point. The installed chargers provide output ranging from 200 kW at full utilisation to 400 kW per individual charging point, and are configured to meet the specific technical requirements of each vehicle.

“Long charging times remain one of the main barriers to the development of electromobility. The new ORLEN Charge hub significantly mitigates this challenge, offering charging times comparable to the average time spent by drivers of conventional vehicles at service stations. Within the next two years, we intend to deploy over 50 such hubs along major transport routes. In doing so, ORLEN aims not only to provide its customers with the highest quality of service, but also to advance the Company’s strategic ambitions in zero-emission transport and contribute to the energy transition of Poland and the wider region,” said Marek Balawejder, Member of the Management Board for Retail Sales at ORLEN.

The dynamic power-sharing system installed at the Olsztynek site automatically allocates power between connected vehicles, ensuring that each receives the optimal charging rate. As a result, regardless of the number of vehicles being charged, the charging time remains short, and the process is both efficient and tailored to the needs of the most advanced electric vehicles. The new ORLEN Charge infrastructure can accommodate the peak electricity demand of any electric vehicle currently available on the market. The hub at Olsztynek Południe is open 24/7, offering intuitive touchscreen interfaces, contactless payments, and real-time charging monitoring through the ORLEN Charge mobile app.

“We are developing the ORLEN Charge network to make it as convenient and efficient as possible for users. By the end of this year, we will launch further high-power charging hubs across Poland, including in Szczecin, Gorzów Wielkopolski, Zgorzelec and Nowy Dwór Gdański. These projects form part of a nationwide programme to expand electromobility infrastructure. Most of the hubs will be located along transit routes, significantly helping to eliminate barriers to intercity electric vehicle travel,” said Krzysztof Kaczyński, Executive Director for Electromobility at ORLEN.

Each ORLEN Charge hub will comprise of 6 to 12 charging points with an intelligent power-sharing system. The first installations to be commissioned include those in Szczecin, Gorzów Wielkopolski, Zgorzelec, Nowy Dwór Gdański, and at motorway service areas Barnisław Północ, Barnisław Południe, Gruczno Zachód, Morzęcino Zachód, Brzegi and Szumowo. This will enable ORLEN Charge customers travelling on motorways and expressways to conveniently recharge their vehicles at any stage of their planned journey.

 “At such high charging speeds, the difference between electric and combustion-engine vehicles becomes increasingly negligible. Regardless of the type of vehicle we drive, for our own safety and that of other road users, we should take 15-minute breaks every two hours of driving. Infrastructure such as that in Olsztynek allows drivers to recharge their batteries during these rest periods to continue a safe journey,” said Piotr Suchodolski, Executive Director for Commercial Marketing at ORLEN.

The new ORLEN charging infrastructure provides comfort and flexibility for long-distance travel, allowing drivers to complete their journeys with a single charging stop or several short breaks combined with rest in convenience zones. For example, the Białystok–Kraków route (500 km) can be completed by charging at the Szumowo and Brzegi Motorway Service Areas, or alternatively with three short stops at modern stations in Szumowo, Warsaw and Brzegi, adapting their travel plans to individual preferences.

The investment in charging hubs forms part of the “Perun E-mobility” project, co-financed by the European Union under the CEF Transport AFIF instrument.

Currently, the ORLEN Charge network comprises over 1,200 charging points across Poland and continues to expand dynamically. It includes both ORLEN-owned stations and those owned by Energa of the ORLEN Group. In line with the ORLEN Group Strategy to 2035, ORLEN Charge aims to achieve a leading position in the Polish public EV charging market. In response to growing demand, charging points will also be developed across other European markets where ORLEN operates.

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