Norway becomes world’s first country to have more EVs than gas-powered cars

Norway has become the first country in the world with more electric vehicles (EVs) than gas-powered cars, according to new data released the week of Sept. 15. Out of the nation’s 2.8 million registered private vehicles, the Norwegian Road Federation says 754,303 of them are electric models, slightly edging out the 753,905 gas-powered cars.

“This is historic. A milestone few saw coming 10 years ago,” Oyvind Solberg Thorsen, director of the Norwegian Road Federation, said in a statement. “The electrification of the fleet of passenger cars is going quickly, and Norway is thereby rapidly moving towards becoming the first country in the world with a passenger car fleet dominated by electric cars.”

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While diesel engines still remain the most common vehicle type in the Nordic nation, the rapid rise in EV adoption is expected to result in electric cars soon overtaking that top spot. Experts predict this could happen by 2026, as EVs now account for over 90% of new vehicle sales in Norway.

This shift toward electric vehicles has been driven by a range of government policies aimed at promoting this type of transportation. Key initiatives include exempting electric cars from sales and emissions taxes, reducing tolls and parking fees for EV drivers, and allowing electric vehicles to use bus lanes.