Norway, a leading oil exporter, now has more electric cars than petrol vehicles on its roads. Out of 2.8 million registered private cars, 754,303 are fully electric, while 753,905 run on petrol, according to data from the Norwegian Road Federation. The country, home to 5.5 million people, is on track to end the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2025.
This shift towards electric vehicles (EVs) has been driven by tax incentives and other benefits, largely funded by Norway’s oil and gas revenues. The nation’s $1.7 trillion sovereign wealth fund, built from oil profits, has enabled the government to offer green incentives like sales tax exemptions for EV buyers.
In the early days of promoting EVs, even Norway’s biggest pop band, A-ha, was enlisted by environmental activists to help raise awareness.
Although this is a significant milestone, there’s still progress to be made, as diesel cars remain the most common at nearly one million, though their sales are rapidly declining. Today, nine out of 10 new cars sold in Norway are electric. Authorities have made owning an EV highly attractive by offering perks such as free parking, no city tolls, and widespread access to charging stations, with 2,000 located in Oslo alone.
Despite these advancements, Norway still faces challenges in fully transitioning to electric vehicles. Although diesel cars dominate the roads for now, their numbers are shrinking quickly as new EV sales continue to surge. With nearly 90% of all new cars sold being electric, Norway is well on its way to achieving its 2025 goal of phasing out petrol and diesel car sales.
However, while the country has made significant strides, the push for EV adoption isn’t without its hurdles. Expanding the charging infrastructure to meet the growing demand, especially in rural areas, remains a key priority. Additionally, the government will need to balance its financial support for green initiatives with long-term sustainability, as revenues from oil production, which have funded these incentives, could decline in the future.
As Norway leads the world in the shift to electric vehicles, its progress serves as a model for other nations striving to reduce carbon emissions. With ongoing innovation and policy support, Norway’s transition to a greener transport system could pave the way for a more sustainable global future.
