Nearly a third of new cars sold in Norway last year were pure electric models, consolidating the Scandinavian country’s lead in electric car sales per capita globally, Reuters reports.
According to statistics revealed by the independent Norwegian Road Federation (NRF), sales of EVs climbed to 31.2% of the total industry volume of 147,929 units in 2018. It’s a jump up from the 20.8% managed in 2017 and a significant gain from the 5.5% recorded in 2013.
Electric car sales amounted to 46,092 units, and the best-selling model was the Nissan Leaf, with 12,303 units sold. The BMW i3 also performed well, with 5,687 units shifted in that market.
The progress keeps the country’s aim of having 100% of all new car sales being of the zero emission variety by 2025 on track. In 2016 it had announced that it will be halting the sale of petrol and diesel-powered vehicles by then.
Oeyvind Solberg Thorsen, head of the NRF, said the increase in EV sales brings it a small step closer to the 2025 goal, but added that there was still a long way to go, given that two-thirds of the total were still fossil fuel vehicles or hybrids.
In a bid to push electrification, Norway exempts battery-driven cars from most taxes and offers benefits such as free parking and charging points to help propel the change. Despite this, some doubt that the 2025 target can be achieved. Consultancy firm Institute of Transport Economics (ITE) said the segment may be able to get to a 75% market share, provided that tax breaks are maintained.
“Strictly speaking I don’t think it’s possible, primarily because too many people don’t have a private parking space and won’t want to buy a plug-in car if they can’t establish a charging point at home,” said ITE economist Lasse Fridstroem.
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Electric cars in Norway are heavily subsidized. Some, even cheaper than the country that make those cars.
Msia and norway both are oil producing country. Norway encourages electric and green cars. But malaysia no longer support such effort fearing oil tycoons might lose money. Even our fuel is not up to the new euro spec because of the oil tycoons.
If only we eat more salmon we might be as smart as the Norwegian.
Oil tycoon is someone’s son kap. Cannot kacau him one kap.
No way. Unless you eat more whale meat and drink more lager maybe you will be smart as the Baltic dwellers.
We can never be like Norway eventhough we eat more Salmon.
By the way, Norway – every rakyat is a millionaire in USD.
This is because all their oil money goes into a Sovereign Fund that is owned by every single citizen. Today, the Sovereign Fund is worth USD 1 Trillion.
In Malaysia, Petronas money don’t know where it goes. Every year PEtronas makes about RM50 billion to RM100 billion but don’t know where the money goes.
It should go to the rakyat because oil is in the ground owned by the rakyat.
The whole world is moving towards EV. Infact, by 2035, the whole of Europe will be EV and completely no petrol cars.
That is not long more. Just 16 years more. Every EU Government has given their commitment.
But here in Malaysia, our national car maker – no news about EV. Even Hybrid, which is a 10 year old technology also, Proton does not have.
This is what you call a lembap company.
No wonder people say Perodua even more lembap. Still count on ancient engine and prehistoric 4AT gearbox. So lembap, it makes other lembap company sound like it belongs in 21st century, not like this very lembap 1st century company.
BMW X5e, 330e and 530e sold the most here. Incl the Audi A6 hybrid and Ioniqs
The world should emulate Norway. It is one of the richest countries in the world because of it’s large oil revenue from it’s North Sea. However, Norwegians don’t take oil for granted as it is finite resource and will not last forever. Look at how clean their country’s air and environment. Middle east and Malaysia should look at this.
Scandinavians always set the standard. The rest 50 years behind.