Over 90% of new cars in Norway are electric, thanks to an architect, pop stars, and a converted Fiat Panda

While cars contribute a lot to pollution, Norway is leading the way in using electric cars.

In 2023, 82.4% of the cars sold in Norway were electric. In January, it has risen to 92.1%, and they’re aiming for all cars to be electric by next year.

Meanwhile, the UK pushed back its ban on petrol and diesel cars from 2030 to 2035, and only about 14.7% of new cars sold in January were electric.

Moreover only 10.9% of cars sold in the EU were electric in January, according to The Guardian.

Stavanger, a city in Norway known for its oil industry, has played a big part in this electric car revolution. They started experimenting with electric buses way back in 1994.

Harald Nils Røstvik, an architect and professor from University of Stavangercaare , has been a key figure in this movement.

In 1983, Gro Harlem Brundtland, a former and future Norwegian prime minister, was chosen to lead the Brundtland Commission, a United Nations organization dedicated to advocating for environmentally friendly growth.

The commission’s influential report, released in 1987, helped popularize the concept of “sustainable development.”

“She was traveling the world talking about environmental stuff, saying that we should be an environmentally conscious nation. That was the rhetoric – while Norway was pumping oil!” Røstvik said.

“My goal was to embarrass the government, take their own words, and return them to them. We wanted to make the world’s best incentives for electric vehicles,” he added.

Røstvik and others aimed to hold the government accountable by promoting electric vehicles and creating incentives aligned with environmental goals.

In 1989, Røstvik and some friends imported one of Norway’s first electric cars—a modified Fiat Panda.

They replaced the Panda’s back seats with large battery banks that only require two days of charging to run about 20 to 25 miles, but it was a start.

Røstvik’s friends were Morten Harket and Magne “Mags” Furuholmen from the famous band a-ha. They protested by driving their electric car on toll roads without paying.

“It was a non-polluting car, so it shouldn’t pay,” Røstvik says.

They wanted the government to support electric vehicles by giving them perks like free tolls, parking, no import tax or VAT, access to bus lanes, and public charging stations.

They even got fines for their protests, but they kept at it. The car was towed away multiple times, but supporters kept buying it back for them.

Norway’s success with electric cars comes down to good tax policies. They’ve always taxed new cars heavily, so more people bought them when they started removing taxes on these vehicles.

Other countries often subsidize electric cars, but Norway focused on making them cheaper by not taxing them.

Christina Bu, from the Norwegian EV Association, says Norway’s small size helped too. People and politicians work together because it’s easier to have meetings and discussions in a small country.

Plus, politicians from all parties supported the goal of making all new cars emissions-free by 2025.

Why are Norwegians embracing electric cars so enthusiastically?

Surprisingly, it’s not solely due to their deep environmental concern. Studies reveal that Norwegians worry less about climate change than people in other nations.

Norway’s wealth is closely tied to its oil and gas industry.

Oil and gas contribute 24% of the country’s GDP and make up 52% of its exports.

As the third-largest exporter of natural gas, Norway has become the primary supplier to the European market, surpassing even Russia.

This comparison raises questions about Norway’s stance on environmental issues, especially considering Brundtland’s advocacy for sustainability while the nation continues to pump oil.

Some may see Norway’s push for electric vehicles adoption as an attempt to reconcile its reliance on fossil fuels with its commitment to environmental responsibility, but others may view it as hypocritical.

Norway gets most of its electricity from renewable sources like hydroelectric power. So, switching to electric vehicles makes sense because they are cleaner.

They’re also investing in a better electric charging infrastructure to ensure that it can handle the demand.

Eimund Nygaard, CEO of Lyse, a Norwegian utilities company, says the switch to electric cars is easier to understand in Norway because they already use a lot of renewable energy.

“We are ready for total electrification,” he said.

Nygaard has been involved in the transition to electric vehicles for nearly as long as Røstvik. Together, they collaborated on a project in 1994 to introduce battery-powered buses to Stavange

Despite some challenges, like buses getting stuck and cold weather affecting range, Norwegians are embracing electric cars.

People like Nygaard, Røstvik, and Bu are leading the charge, showing that a small country can make a big difference in fighting climate change with persistence and the right policies.

Watch a-ha’s Morten Harket tells how they influence Norway’s electeric car revolution below: