In a global first, electric cars outnumber petrol in this country: Here are the reasons
Norway is one of the largest producers and exporters of oil in the world. The country has more electric automobiles than petrol driven vehicles as of now. Of the 2.8 million registered there, 754,303 vehicles are fully electric compared to 753,905 vehicles that run on fossil fuels, especially petrol. These figures are according to the Norwegian Road Federation.
Norway is the first country that is aiming to end the sale of petrol and diesel driven cars by 2025. Sales of EVs have been boosted in the country by giving tax breaks and other incentives funded in large part from the money the nation makes from exporting the oil and natural gas after extracting it from its oil wells.
The country has a sovereign fund worth more than $1.7 trillion (1.3 trillion pounds), built up on the sale proceeds of its oil credit to the oilfields, to act as pension fund when it runs out. The ceiling high cash cushion has made it possible for the government to offer green incentives to motorists including electric car buyers from sales tax.
In the early days of the Electric Vehicles revolution, Norway’s environmental activists even enlisted the help of the music fraternity by calling on its most popular pop group A-ha to promote the use of the vehicles.
The problem still remains with the diesel driven cars being at numerous levels with under 1 million numbers, but their sales are rapidly falling according to reports. Currently 9 out of 10 cars sold are electric vehicles in Norway. Many places have been allotted to EV owners for parking the cars for free by the country’s transport corporation. Also EV owners do not have to pay toll taxes.
