Noway is streets ahead of most other countries when it comes to adopting electric transport. And no wonder, when BBC News reports that 2024 saw nine out of 10 new cars sold running on batteries. So yes, battery electric cars are winners in that Scandinavian country. But how has Norway achieved this, and will other nations follow?
Is Norwegian Culture Behind Battery Electric Cars Winning?
The collective spirit of the nation certainly seems to behind the green revolution, as the BBC News correspondent discovered. We find this quite surprising, given that Norway itself is a major oil and gas producer.
Despite this apparent conflict of interest, almost half the cars in Norway are now electric. And they proudly display this fact with an ‘E’ prefix on their license plates. So perhaps the reason for the conversion is a nation proud to be electric?
The fact that Norway is preparing to phase out gasoline cars completely, is further proof that battery electric cars are winners in that far-off land:
- There are more battery electric cars on the streets now than petrol ones.
- Although if we factor in diesel then only a third of all cars are battery electric.
- Some 88.9% of all cars sold in Norway during 2024 were battery electric.
- In some months this proportion reached as high as 98% of new car sales.
Will Other Nations Follow Norway’s Brave Example?
The enthusiasm in Norway seems to fade, the further we move westward. In the UK, battery electric cars made up only 20% of new car registrations in 2024, again according to BBC News. While in the United States, that ratio dropped to just 8% the same year.
Perhaps the difference is down to central government, and the lack, or presence of enthusiasm for green energy. The ‘E’ registration plates entitle drivers to numerous perks in Norway, including free public parking, free car ferries, and an abundance of charging stations.
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