The rise of Norway electric cars

In the Norway electric cars market, American, German and Japanese car companies are still the main players.

The pure electric vehicle market is led by Tesla, a member of the top 5 energy storage battery companies. For plug-in hybrid vehicles, Sweden’s Volvo and Japan’s Toyota performed well.

In recent years, China’s new electric car manufacturers such as NIO and Xpeng have made Norway their first site in Europe. However, due to their relatively late entry time compared with American, German, and Japanese car companies, they have not yet entered the top ranks.

In 2022, all the best-selling models in Norway will be pure electric vehicles, and the demand for mid-to-high-end models is strong. Compared with other European countries, most of the best-selling models in Norway are priced at more than 47,000 euros.

Reasons for the rapid development of the Norway electric cars market

Government policy support

The government’s intensive incentive policy for the development of electric vehicles, known as the “Norwegian model”, is the main driving force behind the rapid development of the Norway electric cars market.

Since the 1990s, Norwegian governments have gradually introduced subsidies and incentives for electric vehicles, and these measures have a long duration and wide coverage.

In terms of tax relief, Norway has exempted import tax and purchase tax on pure electric vehicles since 1990. Annual road tax exemption from 1996 to 2021.

From 2000 to 2018, the company car tax will be reduced by half. Since 2001, 25% value-added tax has been reduced. In 2015, 25% rental value-added tax was reduced.

In terms of right of way and fee reduction, electric vehicles will not be charged on toll roads or ferries, and parking in municipal parking lots will be free or halved. Besides, Norway electric cars can use bus lanes during rush hour.

Perfect charging infrastructure

Norway has abundant hydropower resources and thermal power resources, and the cost of electricity is extremely low, which is very suitable for the development of the electric vehicle industry.

Norway has also invested in state-of-the-art charging infrastructure to support the transition to more sustainable electric vehicles.

Initially, Oslo has been a test center for new Norwegian infrastructure, and in 2008 the first municipal EV charging system was launched. By 2015, Norway had 10,000 charging stations.

Compared with other European countries, most households in Norway have charging piles, and the number of public fast charging piles for electric vehicles is at a leading level, and the construction speed has also been in a state of high growth.

The layout and configuration of high-density charging facilities is the backing for the rapid development of Norway electric cars industry. At the same time, some electric vehicle battery swapping stations are also in the layout.

Consumer base

The Norway electric cars market has a strong consumer base. Electric car consumers in Norway generally enjoy life, like traveling, movies and music.There are a large number of high-income people with high spending power.

Among them, the consumption demand of young people is strong, and the communication content combining high-quality car models and quality life makes young people more enthusiastic about pure electric vehicle consumption.

The urban elderly group mainly enjoys a slow pace of life such as reading and gardening, and the consumption concepts of audio-visual entertainment, travel, and high quality of life have made hybrid vehicles obtain better sales feedback in the urban elderly group market.

As the consumption of Norway electric cars has been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, the Norwegian second-hand electric vehicle market is also booming. For Norwegian consumers, affordability is the main reason for purchasing electric vehicles.

New technology and luxury brand car experience are also important needs, so expecting to enjoy high configuration and car experience with high cost performance is their main willingness to change cars.

Challenges faced by Norway electric cars

The Norway electric cars market is developing rapidly, but it still faces challenges such as range anxiety and lack of confidence in electric vehicle technology.

Endurance anxiety is one of the most prominent constraints. Although Norway has a small land area, for a country where one-third of its land is located in the cold Arctic Circle, the performance of electric vehicles in severe cold weather has never been able to obtain a convincing solution.

The development of solid state battery may be able to solve this challenge in the future. In addition to battery life, lack of confidence in electric vehicle technology is also one of the constraints.

The environmental protection concept of Norwegian citizens is in a leading position in the world, but the environmental protection of electric vehicle battery recycling is still being questioned, and many Norwegian consumers are still key factors against buying an EV.

Outlook for the future of Norway electric cars

Currently, the Norway EV market shows no signs of slowing down. All taxis in Norway will be emission-free by 2023, and a wireless charging system will help make that happen.

In addition, Norway is working hard to achieve its main goal, that is, all new cars sold by 2025 are zero-emission (pure electric vehicles or hydrogen-powered vehicles), which will make Norway the first country in the world to ban combustion.

With the government’s commitment to the growth of the electric vehicle industry and consumers’ growing environmental awareness, the Norwegian electric vehicle market will continue to thrive.

Summary

In conclusion, the rise of Norway electric cars has been a remarkable success story.

The Norwegian government’s intensive incentive policies, combined with the country’s abundant resources, perfect charging infrastructure, and the high consumption capacity of its citizens, has created a conducive environment for the growth of the electric vehicle market.

As the country continues to work towards achieving its zero-emission goal, it is expected that Norway will continue to be a leader in the global electric vehicle market.

What’s more, the rise of Norway’s electric cars has not only had a positive impact on the environment but also on the economy, as it has created new jobs and stimulated innovation.