Frontpage Insights | Oslo Europe's country of 55 lakh population has become the first country in the world to have more electric vehicles than petrol cars. Of the total 28 lakh vehicles registered here, 7,54,303 (26.3%) are fully electric, while petrol vehicles are 7,53,905. Diesel cars also account for 9,99,715 (35%), but their sales continue to decline. 9 out of every 10 cars sold here are EVs.
In August, 94.3% of new cars were electric, a new record. EV cars have been sold in Norway since the 1990s. In 20 years, 1 million petrol cars have been removed from the roads. EV has taken its place. Notably, Norway has set a target that all cars sold by 2025 will be EVs. This is 10 years ahead of the deadline set by the European Union.
Done like this: sales tax exempt, free charging across the country, free parking too
- The government helped. Introduced incentives to switch to EVs. Sales tax exemption on purchase of EVs.
- Exemption from many tolls levied in the city. Free parking is available.
- Charging stations are available free of charge across the country. There are 2,000 free charging stations in Oslo alone.
- Norway provided these facilities on a large scale. Norway is one of the largest exporters of oil.
India…EV sales 6.38%, 30% target by 2030 According to the central government's vehicle portal, 16,75,800 EVs were sold in the country in FY 2024, up 42% from a year ago. 11,83,418 EVs were sold in 2023, up 158% from 2022. In 2023, the share of EVs in total vehicles was 6.38%. India aims to make it 30% by 2030.
Image Credit: (Divya-Bhaskar): Images/graphics belong to (Divya-Bhaskar).