Norway becomes first country with more EVs than petrol cars
Norway has achieved a significant milestone in its transition toward sustainable transportation, with electric vehicles (EVs) now outnumbering petrol cars for the first time. The Norwegian Road Federation (OFV) reported that out of 2.8 million private cars registered in the country, 754,303 are fully electric. This figure surpasses the number of petrol-run vehicles at 753,905. Despite diesel models still being the most prevalent at just under one million units, their sales are witnessing a rapid decline.
Norway's EV adoption rate is unprecedented
OFV director Oyvind Solberg Thorsen described this development as "historic," and a milestone few anticipated a decade ago. He emphasized that the electrification of passenger cars is progressing swiftly, positioning Norway to potentially become the world's first nation with an EV-dominated car fleet. Thorsen also projected that by 2026, electric cars could outnumber diesel vehicles in the country.
Norway's ambitious zero-emission vehicle target
Despite being a significant oil and gas producer, Norway has set an ambitious goal for all new cars sold by 2025 to be zero-emission vehicles. This target is primarily focused on EVs due to the negligible market share of hydrogen cars. The country's commitment is a decade ahead of the European Union's objective, further highlighting its leadership in promoting sustainable transportation.
Record-breaking EV sales and government incentives
In August, a record 94.3% of new car registrations in Norway were all-electric vehicles, driven by strong sales of the Tesla Model Y. To accelerate the transition to electric road transport and fulfill its climate commitments, the Norwegian government has provided substantial tax rebates on EVs. These incentives have made electric cars competitively priced against their petrol, diesel, and hybrid counterparts.
Norway's EV journey: A 20-year transformation
Over the past two decades, Norway has experienced a significant shift in its vehicle fleet. In September 2004, the country had approximately 1.6 million petrol cars and around 230,000 diesel cars, compared to just 1,000 electric vehicles. This transition toward electric mobility has been instrumental in Norway's efforts to meet its climate commitments of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 55% from 1990 levels by 2030.
