According to data from the Norwegian Road Federation (OFV), out of the 2.8 million private cars registered, 754,303 are all-electric while 753,905 run on petrol. This makes Norway the first country where electric cars overtake petrol models on the road. 

With a population of 5.5 million people, the Nordic country is aiming to become the first nation to end the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2025. This target is ten years ahead of the European Union’s goal, with the Norwegian government setting a benchmark for all new car sales to be zero-emission vehicles. 

Unlike other parts of Europe, where electric car sales have recently declined, Norway is thriving in this transition. “The electrification of the fleet of passenger cars is going quickly, and Norway is thereby rapidly moving towards becoming the first country in the world with a passenger car fleet dominated by electric cars,” OFV director Øyvind Solberg Thorsen said in a press release. 

Despite this achievement for electric vehicles, diesel models still outnumber them, with just under one million remaining on the roads. However, the Norwegian Road Federation has noted a decline in diesel car sales, indicating a shift in consumer preferences.  

Currently, an impressive nine out of 10 new cars sold in Norway are electric. This trend can be attributed to government support and incentives, such as free parking for EVs and exemptions from city tolls, which make electric ownership increasingly appealing to consumers.  

While electric car owners in other countries often face challenges such as insufficient charging facilities, Norway provides a network of charging stations, with free chargers available in every town and city including 2,000 of them in Oslo alone.  

Supporting this ambitious transition is Norway’s sovereign wealth fund that enables the government to offer significant green incentives to motorists, including exemptions from sales tax for electric car buyers. 

Norway’s remarkable transition to electric vehicles (EVs), despite its status as a major oil exporter, demonstrates how government support and incentives can help achieve ambitious green goals. 

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