background image

Most new cars in Norway are EVs. How a freezing country beat range anxiety.

author image

By illuminem briefings

· 3 min read


illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on The Washington Post or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: Norway, including its remote Arctic region of Finnmark, has become the global leader in electric vehicle (EV) adoption, with nearly 90% of new car sales in 2024 being fully electric — and 97% in the latest monthly tally
• The country achieved this through sustained government incentives, high fuel taxes, and a national charging network that overcomes both geographical and climatic challenges, even in areas with extreme winter conditions and vast distances

🔭 The context: Norway began promoting EVs in the 1990s but saw real traction after introducing aggressive tax exemptions: no VAT, no import duties, and perks like free tolls and parking
• Although Norway doesn’t manufacture EVs, it has leveraged its oil-funded sovereign wealth fund (worth $1.7 trillion) to finance climate policies
• Today, it boasts 174 fast chargers per 100,000 people, compared to 11 per 100,000 in South Carolina, a U.S. state with a similar population

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Norway’s success shows that transitioning to EVs is possible even in cold, rural, and logistically difficult environments — if infrastructure and financial incentives are aligned
• It offers a viable policy blueprint for other nations, especially as EV prices drop globally
• However, the environmental footprint of EV supply chains, such as proposed Arctic mining, raises equity and ecological concerns for Indigenous communities and local ecosystems

⏭️ What's next: While Norway is close to its goal of 100% zero-emission new car sales by 2025, the final few percent may be difficult due to infrastructure lags in rural areas and lingering concerns over winter range
• EVs now outnumber internal combustion engine vehicles on Norwegian roads, but diesel cars remain prominent
• Future focus areas include converting heavy-duty transport, addressing charging station wait times, and balancing EV expansion with sustainable sourcing of battery minerals

💬 One quote: "Maybe they should search somewhere where the people aren’t as close to the nature." — Ann-Kristine Bongo, a reindeer herder, criticizing copper mining projects linked to EV battery production

📈 One stat: 20% – the average cold-weather range loss for EVs in Norway, according to the Norwegian Automobile Federation

See on illuminem's Data Hub™ the sustainability performance green tech companies like Tesla, Volkswagen, and BYD

Click for more news covering the latest on green tech

Did you enjoy this illuminem voice? Support us by sharing this article!
author photo

About the author

illuminem's editorial team, providing you with concise summaries of the most important sustainability news of the day. Follow us on Linkedin, Twitter​ & Instagram

Other illuminem Voices


Related Posts


You cannot miss it!

Weekly. Free. Your Top 10 Sustainability & Energy Posts.

You can unsubscribe at any time (read our privacy policy)