Electric cars outnumber petrol cars in Norway for the first time

Norway has made history by becoming the first country where electric vehicles (EVs) now outnumber petrol cars. According to the Norwegian Road Federation (OFV), there are 754,303 all-electric cars registered, compared to 753,905 petrol cars. Although diesel cars are still the most common, with nearly one million on the road, their sales are dropping quickly.

"This is a historic moment that few expected ten years ago," said OFV director Oyvind Solberg Thorsen. He added that if the trend continues, Norway could have more electric cars than diesel ones by 2026.

Despite being a major oil and gas producer, Norway aims to only sell zero-emission vehicles by 2025, ten years ahead of the European Union's target. In August, electric cars made up an impressive 94.3 percent of new registrations, largely thanks to the popularity of models like the Tesla Model Y. This is in stark contrast to other European countries, where electric vehicle sales are struggling.

Norway has encouraged this shift by offering generous tax incentives for electric cars, making them more affordable compared to petrol and diesel vehicles. Other benefits, like exemptions from tolls and free parking, have also helped boost sales, though some of these perks have been reduced over time.

Looking back, Norway's car market has changed dramatically over the past 20 years. In 2004, there were around 1.6 million petrol cars, 230,000 diesel cars, and just 1,000 electric vehicles. This move to electric cars is essential for meeting Norway's climate goals, which include reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 55 percent by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. However, while emissions fell by 4.7 percent last year, the overall reduction since 1990 is only 9.1 percent.

In contrast, other European countries are facing challenges with electric vehicle sales. So far this year, electric cars have accounted for only 12.5 percent of new registrations in Europe. Concerns are growing about the EU's ability to ban petrol and diesel cars by 2035. Meanwhile, in neighboring Sweden, new electric car sales have also dropped after the government removed purchase rebates.

As Norway leads the way in electric vehicle adoption, its success could serve as an example for other countries looking to move towards cleaner transportation.

Source: AFP