- In a global first, Norway, famously an early mass adopter of EVs, now has more fully-electric passenger cars on the road than pure petrol models.
- The milestone was reached this week, with over 754,300 passenger EVs on the road, compared to over 753,900 petrol cars.
- This number of EVs also beats the number of both hybrid and plug-in hybrid models on Norway’s roads.
Another milestone for Norway’s drive for EVs
The figures, as published by the Norwegian Road Federation (OFV), mean that Norway is just a couple of years away from the point where EVs will outnumber all ICE cars, including current diesel models on the road, which were a historically popular choice in the country. With just under one million diesels on the road, the OFV calculates that EVs will outnumber diesels by 2026. This takes into consideration the current rate of electric sales, with BEVs already accounting for the vast majority, which are also set to be mandated as new cars next year, but also the rate at which existing diesel cars leave the road and are retired.
OFV’s Director, Øyvind Solberg Thorsen, urged the industry not to let its foot off the EV promoting-throttle just yet, however, noting that economic changes, such as EV incentives or interest rates, could still have an impact on both the number and drivetrain type of cars that Norwegian individuals and businesses continue to buy. With Norway’s massively successful push for EVs, it is undoubtedly one of the countries helping contribute to a massive decline in demand for oil in the global road sector – currently at the rate of 1.8 million barrels, per day.
OFV Director, Øyvind Solberg Thorsen, commented on the results:
“This is historic. A milestone few saw coming ten years ago. The electrification of the passenger car fleet is keeping a high pace, and Norway is making rapid strides towards becoming the first country in the world with a passenger car fleet dominated by electric cars.”
