Norway has been a staunch supporter of the electric vehicle (EV) revolution for over a decade. Despite eliminating most major EV incentives, sales of electric cars continue to climb higher. Let's delve into the details:

1. Incentives and Policies in Norway:

   - From 1990 to 2022, any EV was exempt from import duties.

   - EVs were also exempt from paying the VAT (value added tax) that applies to other cars.

   - The annual road tax was waived for EVs from 1996 until 2021.

   - Additional perks included free parking in major cities, access to HOV lanes, and reduced tolls for bridges, tunnels, and ferries.

   - Tesla recognized these incentives early on and marketed its electric cars in Norway, where they consistently lead in EV sales¹.

2. Recent EV Sales Data in Norway:

   - In April 2024, 10,051 electric cars were sold, marking a 15.4% increase from the previous month.

   - More significantly, EV sales were up by 34.5% year over year compared to April 2023.

   - Total new car sales in Norway for April 2024 were 11,241, with 89.4% being zero-emission cars (purely electric or hydrogen fuel cell vehicles).

   - If plug-in hybrids are included, 91% of all new cars have a charging connection.

   - The market share of purely electric cars has significantly increased over the year, reaching 83.2% in April 2023 (when incentives were still in place) and 74.1% in April 2022.

3. Global Comparison:

   - While the US sees growing popularity of hybrids and plug-in hybrids, Norway's focus remains on fully electric cars.

   - Plug-in hybrids accounted for only 1.6% of sales in Norway last month, emphasizing the dominance of pure EVs.

Norway's commitment to sustainable transportation and its robust charging infrastructure continue to drive EV adoption, even without direct incentives.