Norway is undoubtedly a pioneer in electric vehicles, but this electric revolution has been three decades in the making.
“It started back in the early 1990s,” says Kristina Boo, secretary general of the Norwegian Electric Vehicle Association, as she drives me around Oslo in an electric minivan.
“Gradually, the taxes on cars with petrol and diesel engines became much more expensive, while electric cars were exempted from taxes.”
Support for electric vehicles was first introduced to help two of Norway’s first electric vehicle manufacturers, Buddy (formerly Kewet) and TH!NK City. Even though they went out of business, the incentives for greener cars remained.
“Our goal is to make sure that it’s always a good and viable choice, to choose zero emissions,” says Norway’s Deputy Transport Minister Cecilie Knibe Kroglund.
Although Norway is a major producer of oil and gas, Norway aims to make all new cars sold “net zero” starting at some point in 2025. The optional goal was set back in 2017, and the milestone is now within reach.
“We’re getting close to our goal, and I think we’ll reach it,” Kroglund adds. “I think we have already made the transition to passenger cars.”
