Norway is on the brink of becoming the first country to stop selling new petrol and diesel cars. With electric vehicle (EV) sales skyrocketing, it’s clear that the Norwegian love affair with fossil fuels is on life support—and it’s about to be switched off.
Record-Breaking EV Adoption
Last year, EVs accounted for nearly one-third of all cars on Norway’s roads, according to the BBC. New data from the Norwegian Road Federation (OFV) shows:
- 88% of new car sales in Norway in 2024 were electric
- In some months, that figure hit 98%—effectively making petrol stations a thing of the past
Contrast that with the UK, where just 20% of new cars registered in 2024 were EVs, and the US at a humble 8%.
Tax Tactics and Incentives
But how has Norway managed this green revolution? According to Christina Bu, secretary general of the Norwegian EV Association, the secret is a classic “stick and carrot” approach:
“Little by little taxing petrol and diesel engine cars more… while electric cars have been exempted from taxes.”
In other words, if you make polluting cars wickedly expensive, and EVs tax-free, people will do the maths—and choose the silent but swift option.
The 2025 Deadline Looms
Despite being a big oil and gas producer, Norway wants all new cars sold from 2025 onwards to be “zero emission.” It’s a lofty ambition that once seemed downright impossible. But now, says deputy transport minister Cecilie Knibe Kroglund:
“We are closing in on the target. I think we have already made the transition for passenger cars.”
Considering Norway is already hitting near-100% EV sales some months, it sounds like the rest of the world might soon be asking Norwegians for driving tips (and maybe some of those tax exemptions).
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