Norway may become the first country in the world to completely switch to electric vehicles
Norway may become the first country in the world where new cars with gasoline and diesel engines completely disappear from the market. About this informs CNBC.
Despite its large oil and gas reserves, Norway has long been a world leader in the adoption of alternative energy vehicles (NEVs). The share of electric vehicles in the total sales of new cars in the country has increased from less than 1% in 2010 to 88.9% in 2024.
According to the Norwegian Public Roads Authority, more than 96% of new passenger cars sold in the first weeks of this year are electric. Such dynamics indicate that the country is approaching the full transition to NEV, which corresponds to the goal set by legislators back in 2017.
Deputy Minister of Transport Cecilia Knibe Kroglund noted that the key success factor was a stable state policy aimed at supporting electric vehicles. Unlike many countries that are betting on bans on internal combustion engines, Norway has stimulated the transition with economic and tax measures.
Owners of electric cars in the country are exempt from value added tax (VAT), receive discounts on road tax and parking, and have access to public transport lanes. In addition, the government is actively developing the infrastructure of charging stations.
In 2025, Norway plans to fully convert city buses to electric traction, and by the end of the decade to increase the share of heavy-duty NEVs to 75%.
