From Poland to Norway: 6 CPOs and an XPeng G6 crossing 5 countries

Five countries, one electric vehicle (EV), six charge point operators (CPOs), and zero setbacks.

That’s how Agata Rzędowska, CharIN Ambassador, summed up her third road trip from Warsaw to Oslo.

The purpose of the journey was to attend the Nordic EV Summit 2025, an event organised by the Norwegian EV Association in Lillestrøm, near Oslo.

“Each year I try to drive to Norway with a different car and along a different route,” Rzędowska told Mobility Portal Europe.

“This time, the route was longer. In addition to driving through Poland, Sweden and Norway (using the ferry), I also drove through Denmark and Germany,” she added.

The first time, she drove a Nissan Ariya, and on the previous trip a Volvo EX30. But this time, the CharIN Ambassador chose a Chinese EV.

“Travelling in the XPeng G6 was efficient and comfortable, showcasing the vehicle’s impressive capabilities. The trip included an overnight ferry crossing and two charging stops between Karlskrona and Oslo,” she said.

“Upon arrival in Oslo, the battery was still half full, demonstrating the car’s good range and energy efficiency. It also stood out for its smooth handling and satisfying charging performance, making it an ideal option for long-distance travel,” she added.

With regard to charging stations, Rzędowska used Greenway points in Poland, charged at IONITY at least twice, and also relied on Recharge in Norway.

In addition, she made a charging stop at Allego, another at BP Pulse, and in Germany she used EnBW chargers, one of the country’s largest charging networks.

Rzędowska described this adventure as “calm” and “stress-free”.

“I’ve been driving electric cars for nearly ten years, and I can say that today’s journeys are no longer a challenge,” she admitted.

“In every country, charging was easy. I no longer need to plan routes, because in most places near motorways I can stop to use the restroom or do some shopping – and also charge the EV,” she added.

Lessons from the road: what still needs improvement?

Although she described the journey as “smooth and straightforward,” the CharIN Ambassador identified several critical issues in the e-mobility sector that still require attention.

“Grid connection and cybersecurity should now be a priority. However, there is a clear lack of discussion and interest around these topics among various stakeholders,” she remarked.

When asked what she learned about charging times, and range anxiety, she replied:

“When you travel alone, you need to be confident that manufacturers have done their job properly and that you can rely on both the car’s hardware and software. The same applies to the charging infrastructure.”

However, Rzędowska acknowledged that this is not always the case.

“Sometimes things simply don’t work as they should. I am still surprised that there are issues with the connection between the EV and the charger,” she noted.

Rzędowska also pointed out that it remains uncertain how much the journey will cost, as this cannot be predicted as accurately as with an internal combustion engine vehicle.

“That needs to change soon,” she emphasised.

The CharIN ambassador suggested that manufacturers should face the challenge of providing clear pricing information through integrated navigation systems and apps connected to their vehicles.

But beyond that, she highlighted a key factor: “Reliability. That should be the most important thing.”

What can Poland learn from Norway?

Norway is on track to meet its 2025 goal of ending the sale of new internal combustion engine (ICE) passenger cars.

The 2025 Nordic EV Summit focused on best practices and strong coalitions — without which this achievement would not have been possible.

It is worth noting that Norway did not rely on direct subsidies funded by oil and gas revenues. Instead, VAT exemptions and pollution taxes made this success possible.

“Politicians continue to support electric mobility in the same way: when new car sales reached around 90% electric, they introduced new taxes on ICE and plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs), pushing sales up to 98%,” Rzędowska explained.

For Rzędowska, the Nordic EV Summit was an opportunity to contrast Polish challenges with Norwegian normality.

“We need to be more open to taxes and subsidies, and I understand this is a difficult topic for many people. But if we consider that polluters should pay for their pollution, then that money can be used, for example, to prepare vehicle fleets,” she stated.

She added: “I realise there is controversy because, from my perspective, we are subsidising businesses that are already well established. However, if we don’t do this, we won’t have a market for used electric vehicles in Poland.”

Used cars from Norway continue to be sold there and remain popular.

Since Norway is not part of the European Union, for instance, people from Latvia, Lithuania, and especially Ukraine are buying used Norwegian EVs.

“So, taxes and subsidies: without them, nothing will happen,” she said.

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