The Land Where Electric Vehicles Reign

In this European country, the Nissan Leaf is the third best seller and Tesla's Model S luxury car is number one. The major reason is not its environmental ethos, which is strong, but because of the perks that EVs receive. What county is it?

2 minute read

January 31, 2014, 9:00 AM PST

By Irvin Dawid


Amsterdam Electric Car

Ludovic Hirlimann / Flickr

It's Norway, where almost 60% of electricity comes from non-carbon sources (nuclear and hydro-electric, per Wikipedia), so EVs make sense from an environmental perspective.

"The latest figures suggest that over 21,000 all-electric vehicles (EVs) are now registered in the country of 5 million people with sales running at over 1,200 a month, or over 10% of all sales," writes John Vidal, the Guardian's environment editor. It's all the more remarkable considering Norway's cold climate, not the most hospitable for EVs as Bill Howard explains for ExtremeTech.

By comparison, in the U.S. "the market share of plug-in electric passenger cars increased from 0.14% in 2011 through 0.37% in 2012 to 0.62% of new car sales during 2013," according to Wikipedia, [Also see "2013 electric vehicle sales jump 84%", The Detroit News, Jan 3.]

So, what's driving EV sales in Norway? It's "the chance of free commuting in the bus lane and generous incentives, says the industry," writes Vidal.

Battery-powered cars in the world's fourth richest country are not just exempt from high rates of purchase tax, and VAT, but pay no road and ferry tolls or parking fees, cost less to insure and can be charged up for free electricity from thousands of points. Local government will also subsidise the installation of charging points in homes. Research suggests the subsidies could be worth nearly £5,000 a year per car.

Alas, these perks may be coming to an end. "Incentives will be withdrawn, or reconsidered, when 50,000 zero emission cars have been registered or come 2018, whichever is the earliest. At the current rate of sales, the 50,000 figure could be reached within 18 months."

Vidal indicates that it might be a good thing that the perks (also referred to as "distortionary incentives" by some energy experts) and EVs stand on their own merits.

The vehicles are now so popular that they dominate the bus lanes into Oslo, making up to 75% of the vehicles alowed [sic] in them. In addition, it's getting harder and harder to find unoccupied public charging facilities. [Similar issue arose with charging EVs in Silicon Valley.]

What's particularly noteworthy is that Norway is the world's tenth largest oil exporter. Could they set a model for other oil producing nations, like Venezuela, ninth on the export list, that subsidize gasoline prices rather than subsidize EV driving? 

Wednesday, January 29, 2014 in The Guardian

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 9, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Haussmann's redesign of Paris in the 1850s through 1870s under Napoleon III.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking

Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

June 30, 2025 - Tom Sanchez

View of dense apartment buildings on Seattle waterfront with high-rise buildings in background.

King County Supportive Housing Program Offers Hope for Unhoused Residents

The county is taking a ‘Housing First’ approach that prioritizes getting people into housing, then offering wraparound supportive services.

July 11 - Real Change

Aerial view of suburban housing near Las Vegas, Nevada.

Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing

Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.

July 11 - Shelterforce Magazine

Green bike share bikes parked in a row on a commercial street with outdoor dining and greenery.

Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive

Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.

July 11 - Cities Today