Norway is the Global Model for Encouraging EV Sales

Norway is the third largest market for electrically chargeable vehicles in the world. Only the USA and China have higher plug-in sales. Norway leads all countries with a 32% plug-in share; no other country is close to this record amount.   

Additionally: “Sales of electric cars in Norway have overtaken traditional vehicles for the first time: 58% of all new vehicles sold in March 2019 were battery-powered,” says the World Economic Forum (WEO).   

Research firm Statista says: “The stock of electric and plug-in hybrid cars in Norway has increased, reaching nearly 300 thousand as of 2018.”   

Speaking of 2018 Norway car sales, Reuters says: “Almost a third of new cars sold last year were pure electric, a new world record as the country strives to end sales of fossil-fueled vehicles by 2025.” WEO: “When it comes to electric vehicle uptake, Norway is streets ahead of any other country.”   

A wonderful fact: Norway’s fleet of electric cars is one of the cleanest in the world, since 98% of the electricity generated in the country comes from hydropower. In 2017, as a result of its fast growing EV adoption, Norway was able to achieve its climate target for average fleet CO2 emissions (85 g/km) for new passenger cars three years earlier than pledged.   

Emissions in Norway from transport have risen since 2005. In order to fulfil the Paris pledge, they’ll need be to cut in half by 2030. Norway’s Parliament has set an indicative target that all new passenger vehicles sold by 2025 should be emissions-free.   

To reduce air pollution and its CO2 footprint, and hasten a shift from diesel and petrol engines, Norway exempts battery-driven cars from most taxes and offers free parking and charging benefits. Norwegian drivers of zero-emission cars enjoy benefits such as no road tax, exemption from 25% VAT on sales, reduced road and ferry tolls and parking costs, and access to bus lanes. These initiatives have propelled Norway to have the highest electric vehicle use per capita. In its race to phase out diesel and petrol, Norway is way ahead of all the other countries.   

A study by CICERO, the Center For International Climate Research, has shown that EV drivers dramatically reduce total running costs (excluding insurance, depreciation and parking) by around 75%, compared to diesel or fossil fuel car drivers who are driving through Oslo toll stations twice daily, driving to and from work. This creates a massive incentive for EV adoption! 

The Nissan Leaf was Norway's best-selling new passenger car model in 2018, marking the first time in any country that an all-electric car tops annual sales of the passenger car segment. According to a 2018 analysis by McKinsey & Company, Norway has already reached a critical mass of electric vehicles, therefore, the country is the only one in the world in the third stage of a disruptive trend, and the EV disruption is inevitable. Just as automobiles replaced horse-drawn vehicles, EVs are now replacing ICE cars. 

The Volkswagen e-Golf, Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, BMW i3, and Tesla Models X and S have also sold extremely well In Norway.         

https://www.statista.com/statistics/696187/electric-and-hybrid-cars-number-in-norway/   https://www.reuters.com/article/us-norway-autos/norways-electric-cars-zip-to-new-record-almost-a-third-of-all-sales-idUSKCN1OW0YP   

https://www.climatechangenews.com/2018/03/16/norways-electric-car-demand-outstripping-supply-lessons-eu/   

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/04/norway-electric-car-market-vehicle-sales/   

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plug-in_electric_vehicles_in_Norway