What Can Other Nations Learn from Their Success?
Nine out of 10 new cars in Norway are battery-powered, aiming for 100% this year. Norway’s approach to electric vehicle (EV) adoption sets a global standard. What lessons can other countries draw from this trailblazing effort?
A Nation Embracing the Electric Future
For over 75 years, Oslo-based car dealership Harald A. Møller imported Volkswagens. Early in 2024, it stopped selling fossil fuel cars entirely. Today, all passenger cars in its showroom are electric.
“It feels wrong to recommend an internal combustion engine (ICE) car now. The future is electric,” says Ulf Tore Hekneby, CEO. He highlights EVs’ long ranges and fast charging, which make ICE vehicles outdated.
In Oslo, EVs dominate the streets. Nearly every other car displays an “E” for electric on its license plate. Norway, home to 5.5 million people, leads globally in EV adoption and is close to phasing out new fossil fuel car sales entirely.
In 2024, EVs surpassed petrol cars on Norway’s roads for the first time. Including diesel, electric cars now make up nearly a third of all vehicles. A staggering 88.9% of new cars sold in Norway last year were electric, a sharp rise from 82.4% in 2023.
In some months, EV sales hit 98%, leaving petrol and diesel purchases nearly extinct. By contrast, EVs accounted for 20% of new car registrations in the UK and just 8% in the US during 2024.
The Policies Powering Norway’s EV Success
Norway’s EV journey began in the early 1990s. Christina Bu, Secretary General of the Norwegian EV Association, recalls how taxing petrol and diesel cars made them expensive, while EVs remained tax-exempt.
Initially, incentives supported local EV manufacturers like Buddy and TH!NK City, which later ceased operations. However, the green vehicle policies persisted, driving change.
“We aim to make zero-emission vehicles the best choice,” says Cecilie Knibe Kroglund, Norway’s Deputy Transport Minister. Norway’s 2025 goal to sell only zero-emission cars now seems within reach.
Instead of banning ICE vehicles outright, Norway shifted consumer behavior through predictable policies. Higher taxes and fees on fossil fuel cars were balanced by eliminating VAT and import duties on EVs. Perks like free parking, reduced road tolls, and access to bus lanes also encouraged EV adoption.
Compared to Norway’s incentives, the European Union plans to ban fossil fuel car sales by 2035, and the UK targets 2030.
Drivers Speak Out
Few Norwegians now choose petrol or diesel cars. Ståle Fyen bought his first EV 15 months ago, citing cost savings from tax exemptions as a major factor. “In winter, the range drops by 20%, but Norway’s charging network makes it manageable,” he explains.
Merete Eggesbø, an early Tesla owner, was drawn to EVs in 2014 for environmental reasons. “I wanted a car that didn’t pollute. It feels better to drive,” she says.
Across Norway, petrol stations now feature fast chargers, and over 27,000 public chargers serve the nation. This translates to 447 chargers per 100,000 people, compared to just 89 in the UK.
Norway’s Wealth and Resources
Tesla, VW, and Toyota dominate Norway’s EV market. Chinese brands like MG and Polestar hold 10%, helped by Norway’s decision to avoid tariffs on Chinese EV imports.
Norway’s wealth and abundant renewable hydroelectric power (88% of its energy capacity) support its EV transition. “Other nations can replicate our success,” says Bu, though strategies must fit local conditions.
Wealth, however, is only part of the equation. Clear policies and public understanding of EV benefits have driven Norway’s success. As the world watches Norway’s progress, other nations have much to learn about embracing a sustainable, electric future.
