Electric vehicles outsold ICE cars in Norway last year

Electric vehicles outsold ICE cars in Norway last year

Norway has been leading the world in terms of electric vehicle usage for some time now, and last year, EV sales overtook internal combustion engine vehicles for the first time. According to data sourced by Reuters from the Norwegian Road Federation (OFV), of the 141,412 vehicles sold last year, 76,789 were battery electric vehicles, amounting to a market share of 54.3%. Meanwhile, the remaining 45.7% consisted of plug-in hybrid, hybrid, petrol and diesel vehicles.

The latest result, which is also a new global record, beats 2019’s figure of 42.4% and is a significant improvement from 1% a decade ago, said OFV. The numbers reflect the local government’s push to increase BEV uptake, as such vehicles are exempted from taxes imposed on those that use fossil fuels. Norway is also aiming to end the sale of petrol- and diesel-powered cars by 2025.

It should also be noted that in December 2020, sales of BEVs hit the highest level for any single month, with a 66.7% share of the new car market in that month. Industry analysts expect this trend to continue throughout 2021, as more models are introduced to the market.

“Our preliminary forecast is for electric cars to surpass 65% of the market in 2021,” said Christina Bu who heads the Norwegian EV Association. “If we manage that, the goal of selling only zero-emission cars in 2025 will be within reach,” she added.

Diesel cars, which are typically popular among European customers, saw a massive decline in sales in Norway from a 75.7% market share in 2011, down to just 8.6% in 2020. The same can be said of petrol and hybrid vehicles, with market shares of around 8% and 9% respectively, although plug-in hybrids have grown in popularity there, commanding 20% of the market in 2020.

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Gerard Lye

Originating from the corporate world with a background in finance and economics, Gerard’s strong love for cars led him to take the plunge into the automotive media industry. It was only then did he realise that there are more things to a car than just horsepower count.

 

Comments

  • Leafable on Jan 06, 2021 at 12:38 pm

    Thats nothing. Malaysia ICE outsold EV and we all very proud of it LOL

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 1
    • JOACHIM on Jan 06, 2021 at 2:47 pm

      In a nation where tax rates are high, zero taxes is a huge incentive in persuading car buyers to switch. What will Norway do with all the accumulated used waste batteries is another matter. Can they be reused? Nope. Will they be recycled within Norway? Nope. Are they disposing within Norway? Nope. So what then? That answer is the Dark Side of going EV. Environiks don’t see this problem because they won’t see the problem at their backyard but will scream about waste EV battery pollution in poorer 3rd world countries. Where did these batteries come from, you know I know.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 1
      • Leafable on Jan 06, 2021 at 5:08 pm

        Not sure where you get your info from.

        But used EV battery do have 2nd life after it came out of the vehicles. They can be an energy storage for buildings or renewable fields.

        They are also recyclable but only in European countries for now. Sadly in Asia they don’t have the battery recycling technology yet but to use the used pack as energy storage for now.

        Battery technology and electrify drive train is way more energy efficient than ICE burning fossil fuel to generate pushing power. Even if the EV is charge via a coal fire plant the overall life cycle of it is still way cleaner than continuing burning fossil fuel on a cylinder block. This have been confirm and proven by lots and lots of scientific data by researchers.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 2
        • JOACHIM on Jan 06, 2021 at 5:32 pm

          Norway has no use for used EV batteries as they can get renewable energy from thermal and wind, neither do they have recycling facility for used batteries as it creates harmful waste, waste that Norwegians won’t accept. Current battery technology is limited, dangerous to lifeforms, and toxic to environment. It is not the future of saving the environment.

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 1
          • dream_125 on Jan 06, 2021 at 5:52 pm

            Norway gets it electricity by 100% from hydropower. On the other hand it’s the biggest exporter of crude oil in Europe. If they want to save the climate, they should ban their oil exports first.

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
          • Leafable on Jan 07, 2021 at 3:59 pm

            Battery raw materials only harmful if you put some into your nasi goreng. They can be mechanically recycle as well as an energy storage. Look at how far the battery have improve and evolve since the first Nissan Leaf with 24kwh pack. Now you can stuff 3 times the amount of energy density into a same car size because someone bought the first Nissan Leaf for the technology to improve over the year. Not sure wheres your “it is not the future of saving the environment” going to.

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Camry 2.5HEV on Jan 06, 2021 at 1:39 pm

    Congratulations to Norway.

    Population size like Singapore
    But Land size like Malaysia

    Technically, its a huge expenses to build infrastructure for less sales, yet vehicles required to travel further in Norway compared to Singapore, Singapore is too slow!
    But Norway, made it.

    EV now a majority at Norway – 2020 sales figure!

    But its difficult to read, 2020 Norway summary:
    1. EV = 54.3%
    2. Plug in Hybrid = 20%
    3. Hybrid = 9%
    4. Diesel = 8.6% ( But 2011 was 75.7%)
    5. Petrol = 8%

    Audi E-tron thier best selling EV.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 0
    • JOACHIM on Jan 06, 2021 at 2:50 pm

      While landmass is big, nearly all their population are location at cities and town clusters so infra can be concentrated.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 1
      • Giraffe on Jan 06, 2021 at 4:24 pm

        Thats good for Norway,

        Singapore still far from such status..
        High density, concentrated, but not there.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
      • what is thier density at thier populated area?
        It should be supported with figure for readers reading your opinion.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
        • JOACHIM on Jan 06, 2021 at 5:33 pm

          You can Google “population dispersion in Norway”. Links are not welcomed here.

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
          • Why still not writing. It just some figure..

            Does it have to be a link?

            But noted, we can google to verify if its truth, or fake.

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
  • qirdah on Jan 06, 2021 at 2:04 pm

    In Malaysia, we tried hard and put in our best effort to discourage the rakyat from using electric vehicles. We are memang boleh!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • Truth on Jan 07, 2021 at 8:25 pm

    EV cars are not the future, google abt it and see the harm it causes in the long run, hybrid and efficient ICE are better for now

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

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