More than 97 percent of the brand new automobiles Norwegians registered in November 2025 had been electrical, nearly reaching the nation’s aim of one hundred pc. In consequence, the federal government has begun eradicating a few of the many carrots it used to encourage its successful EV transition. Cecilie Knibe Kroglund, state secretary within the nation’s Ministry of Transport, reveals a few of the challenges that include success.
What had been the vital early steps to advertise the EV change?
Kroglund: Battery-electric autos have had exemptions from the 25 % value-added tax and from the CO2– and weight-based registration tax that apply to combustion-engine autos. We used different tax incentives to encourage constructing charging stations on highways and in rural areas. Cities had the chance to exempt zero-emissions automobiles from toll roads. EV drivers additionally acquired lowered ferry fares, free parking, and entry to bus lanes in lots of cities. The know-how for the autos wasn’t that good initially of the incentives program, however we had the taxes and incentives to make conventional passenger automobiles costlier.
What had been the largest boundaries, and the way did policymakers overcome them?
Kroglund: Early on the know-how was difficult. In summertime it was straightforward to gasoline the EV, however in wintertime it’s double the usage of vitality. However the know-how has improved loads within the final 5 years.
The Norwegian tax exemptions on EVs had been launched earlier than EVs got here to market and had been decisive in offsetting the early disadvantages of EVs in comparison with standard automobiles, particularly concerning consolation, car dimension, and vary. The fast growth of charging infrastructure alongside main corridors has additionally been vital to beat range anxiety.
How have personal firms responded to government incentives?
Kroglund: I’m personally stunned that it went so effectively. This was a long-term dedication from the federal government, and the market has responded to that. Many Norwegian firms use EVs. The marketplace for charging infrastructure is taken into account commercially viable and not wants monetary assist. Nonetheless, we don’t see commercial-vehicle adoption going as quick as passenger autos, and we had the identical aim. So we must assessment the objectives, and we’ll should assessment the incentives.
What sudden new issues is Norway’s success creating?
Kroglund: The success of the passenger-vehicle insurance policies imply EVs are in competitors with public transport within the bigger cities. Driving an EV stays less expensive than driving a standard automotive even with out tax exemptions, and total automotive use continues to rise. Nationwide, regional, and native governments should discover completely different instruments to advertise strolling, bicycling, and public transport as a result of every metropolis and area is completely different.
How relevant are these classes to poorer or much less well-administered nations and why?
Kroglund: We’re completely different as nations. The geographies are completely different, and a few nations have even larger cities than our nationwide inhabitants. This isn’t a coverage for L.A., however what we see in Norway is that incentives work. Nonetheless, tax incentives are solely relevant in programs the place efficient taxation is established, which will not be the case in poorer nations. Different advantages, comparable to decrease native emissions, solely apply in locations with a number of site visitors.
The Norwegian expertise reveals that the financial incentives work, but it surely additionally reveals that EVs work even in a rustic with chilly climate.
This text seems within the February 2026 print concern as “Cecilie Knibe Kroglund.”
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