Norway, known for its huge oil and gas reserves in the North Sea, has long been charted the path of moving from cars with internal combustion engine to electric motors.

A fixed set of measures to support the adoption of electric vehicles, from tax exemptions to reduced fees, has now brought the country to the threshold of complete elimination of petrol and diesel vehicles from the purchase of new cars.

For some of the major cities of the country, about 30% of all passenger cars on the streets are now fully electric (EV), according to Norway’s EV Union (NEVA), which represents electric car owners in the country. The percentage in the capital Oslo, meanwhile, reaches 40%.

It is not surprising, therefore, that when you stand at a crossing in the center of Oslo you see electric vehicles constantly passing.

“It’s very visible. And I think some people haven’t even realized how good it is, because it happened quite quickly, “said Christina Bu, NEVA Secretary -General at CNBC during an interview with Union offices in Oslo.

“The air is cleaner, there is more calm and in general it is a change that has not really cost consumers so much. They actually love the driving of an EV and all this works pretty well, “BU added.

EVS sales in Norway increased by less than 1% of total car sales in 2010 to 88.9% last year – and this trend shows no sign of deceleration.

The data published by the Norwegian Public Road Administration, which is responsible for the country’s national road network, show that electric cars represent more than 93% of the new cars sold in 2025 so far.

In comparison, electric vehicles account for 15.4% of the total market share of the European Union in the first months of 2025.

Tax incentives and public infrastructure

Norwegian Deputy Minister of Transport Cecilie Knibe Kroglund said the country’s success in the transition from internal combustion cars was due to the long -term and consistent policy.

“We have a lot of tax incentives, as well as infrastructure, of course,” Kroglund stressed during an interview with Oslo.

Some of Norway’s motives for electric cars include VAT exemption, traffic and parking discounts and access to buses. The government has also invested significantly in public charging infrastructure and many Norwegian households can charge their cars at home.

NEVA’s BU said last week that the country of about 5.5 million residents has achieved a new electric milestone with 10,000 fast chargers at national level. However, the development of these charging stations was not the same across the country, with much more in the south compared to the distant north.

However, the ever -increasing number of rapid charging stations has defied the concerns of critics who had previously warned that the electricity grid may not be able to cope.

“Norway has implemented strong policies for many years. These are not only tax exemptions but also for higher taxes on cars with an internal combustion engine, “BU said.

“Cars that pollute are taxed in Norway,” he added.

However, Norway’s journey to the world’s vanguard in the adoption of electric vehicles also has its critics.

Some have expressed concerns about the justice of its motivation for electric cars, saying that they can benefit disproportionately higher incomes and may be at the expense of other, more viable transportation options, such as walking and cycling.

Norway, which aims to neutralize carbon dioxide emissions by 2030, has also addressed questions about its role in tackling climate crisis. The country’s economy depends largely on the revenue of fossil fuels, creating a contradiction with its declared green ambitions.

What follows

Looking forward, Kroglund said that the country plans to go completely to electric city buses in 2025, while heavy vehicles will be 75% electric until the end of the decade.

“We must recognize that transport plays a role in climate change. I think 30% of pollution comes from the transport sector, so we had to do something about it, “he said.