Polski
Hybrids Beat Electrics, While Canada Sets a New Energy Storage Record
The latest OTOMOTO Faktor "E" report shows that Poles and the rest of Europe still prefer hybrids over fully electric cars – and it's not about distrust of new technology, but simply about not having a charger at home. Meanwhile, on the other side of the Atlantic, Canada's Northland Power is proving that large-scale energy storage facilities can now be built quickly, cheaply, and safely. Two stories, one conclusion: infrastructure determines the pace of the transition.
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01 · EV Market
Drivers Say "Challenge Accepted" to Hybrids, Not Electrics [1]
The latest edition of the OTOMOTO Faktor "E" report leaves no doubt about which way the market is really leaning. In the first half of 2026, hybrids accounted for as much as 47% of new registrations in the European Union, while fully electric cars made up just 21%. That's a significant gap, especially set against the media narrative of an "electric revolution."
The reason behind this gap is very down-to-earth. As many as 47% of respondents admit they simply have no way to charge a car where they park it day to day. So it's not about price, range, or faith in the technology – it's about hard logistics: if you can't plug in a cable behind an apartment block or in an underground garage without a charging point, a hybrid becomes the safe compromise.
In Poland, this trend is even more pronounced. 52% of those surveyed say they're open to buying a hybrid, while only 26% are considering a fully electric car. In other words – the industry may be talking about a revolution, but drivers ask where they'll charge first, and worry about everything else later.
02 · Energy Storage
Alberta Shows How to Build Energy Storage Without Delays [2]
Where the home-charging problem ends, the need for a stable, well-balanced power grid begins – and that's exactly the subject on which Canada's Northland Power has just given the industry a lesson in discipline. The company has commercially launched the Jurassic energy storage facility in Cypress County, Alberta – an 80 MW, 160 MWh facility that has become the largest energy storage site in the province's history.
The most interesting part of this project, though, isn't the numbers themselves, but how it was delivered. Jurassic was brought online ahead of schedule and under budget – still a rarity rather than the rule in the energy storage industry. On top of that, there were zero accidents across nearly 75,000 hours worked, showing that speed didn't have to come at the expense of safety.
The investment's financial stability, meanwhile, is secured by a 15-year agreement to purchase the facility's entire output, giving Northland Power guaranteed, predictable cash flows for the next decade and a half. It's precisely this model – large scale, firm deadlines, and a long-term offtake contract – that is becoming the benchmark for investors planning similar projects, including in Poland.
03
What This Means for the Polish Market
Both of these stories share a common thread: without infrastructure, there is no transition – whether we're talking about a charger outside an apartment block or an energy storage facility stabilizing the grid. Polish drivers aren't turning away from electromobility – they're turning away from the lack of chargers. And Polish energy storage projects, such as Greenvolt, now have a concrete benchmark for pace and execution discipline to measure themselves against.
We'll be discussing how to solve the charging problem in everyday parking spots, how to build energy storage facilities without schedule delays, and which technologies will truly accelerate Poland's transition at eMobility EXPO 2026 – Poland's Largest Trade Fair for Electromobility Technologies. It's a chance to see home and residential charging solutions, as well as the BESS-class energy storage systems discussed in this overview, live and in person. We invite exhibitors and visitors to reserve their spot now.
Invitation
Since the lack of a home charger is still holding Poles back from going electric, and energy storage is becoming a key piece of a stable grid, it's worth seeing these solutions in person. At eMobility EXPO 2026, you'll meet suppliers of home and residential charging infrastructure as well as BESS-class energy storage systems. Join Poland's largest event dedicated to electromobility technologies and see what will truly speed up the transition.
eMobility EXPO 2026Przypisy
[1] rp.pl / Moto.rp.pl — https://moto.rp.pl/na-prad/art45223551-branza-mowi-o-rewolucji-kierowca-pyta-gdzie-ja-naladuje[2] Energy Global / Northland Power — https://www.energyglobal.com/energy-storage/30092026/northland-power-brings-albertas-largest-battery-storage-facility-online/
This review was prepared by the Ptak Warsaw Expo editorial team.