For two months in a row, electric cars top Norway sales

Electric cars in a parking lot with recharging in Oslo

In September and October of this year, the Tesla Model S and Nissan Leaf, respectively, became the leaders in car sales in Norway. If the Tesla electric car, which appeared on the Norwegian market in August, pulled ahead more likely due to the fulfillment of pre-orders (in October, sales fell several times), then Nissan Leaf shows consistently high results. In 2013, Leaf ranked fourth in sales, with a 3.2% share. In total, in October, 925 electric vehicles were sold in Norway - this is 7.2% of the total, which is more than twice as much as last year.


Electric Vehicle Sales in Europe

Norway is the world leader in electric vehicle sales per capita. In 5 millionth Norway, only one and a half times fewer electric cars are sold than in 65 millionth France. There are large-scale government support programs for electric vehicle owners. In addition to direct tax benefits, free use of toll roads and ferries, a network of free gas stations, electric cars are allowed to use lanes for public transport, special free parking with recharge is available for them. Norway prefers to export its impressive hydrocarbon reserves rather than burning them domestically. 99% of all electricity produced here is generated by hydroelectric power plants.

Although the popularity of electric cars in Norway can be explained by significant benefits, it is not only about them. No benefits could force them to buy cars that cannot drive normally. Norway is a fairly long country with a difficult terrain. Despite the warm ocean currents, the climate here is quite severe - in the north of the country the average January temperature is minus seventeen degrees Celsius. The boom of electric cars here suggests that they are practically not inferior to gasoline in terms of performance, but in some ways surpass them.