Norway Hits Record 98.6% EV Share in April

[RBT]

There are so many things to consider in comparing nations.
There is little doubt that one can more easily make a nice pile in the US than in almost anywhere else in the world.
There is also no doubt that there is more to living well than having a house in a massive subdivision that requires one to drive everywhere.
American cities have many attributes, but historic and often wonderful architecture and vibrant and walkable streets are not among them.

Valid but Chicago has wonderful original architecture. So does lower Manhattan and old city Philadelphia.

Also most of the original European architecture in the countries occupied by Nazi Germany is not original as it was bombed during the war. If you like original German architecture, Basel in Switzerland is essentially the best example of original German architecture because it wasn’t destroyed given Swiss neutrality.

 

[fdcg27]

Valid but Chicago has wonderful original architecture. So does lower Manhattan and old city Philadelphia.

Also most of the original European architecture in the countries occupied by Nazi Germany is not original as it was bombed during the war. If you like original German architecture, Basel in Switzerland is essentially the best example of original German architecture because it wasn’t destroyed given Swiss neutrality.

There is a whole lot of Europe that was undamaged in the war, with many original structures remaining from centuries ago, many of which continue as apartments and hotels with street level shops and cafes.
I'm also not thinking of the relatively new stuff found in the US but rather of structures that predate anything found in our country. You see these buildings walking around any European city outside of Germany or Poland.
We just saw many in Barcelona, the Cathedral of Barcelona and the building housing the Picasso Museum being good examples that we visited, as well as the compound housing the Maritime Museum.

 

[GON]

There are places with no real government at all, just pure "free markets", but I don't think you'll want to visit or live there?

For me, I'm most impressed with how well European nations, do without the huge amount of natural resources places like Canada, US, Russia have. They have figured out how to live "well" with being more efficient in resource use, and they keep their very limited farmland as farmland. Also I think they have a much longer planning horizon, as there was people living in the villages 2000 years ago, and they understand that there should be people living there in similar landscape 2000 years from now...

My late father in law died in Germany, on a six month wait list for heart surgery. Had he been in the US, he would have never died.

Life in the USA has never been better. An illegal alien can walk in to a USA hospital with a critically failing heart, and get immediate open heart surgery, all at no charge to the illegal alien, courtesy of the American taxpayers.

One in the US doesn't have to work to get ample food, shelter, top medical care, and free cell phone. All courtesy of the American taxpayers.

Amazing how people don't know how well it is for non producers in the USA.

 

[02SE]

My late father in law died in Germany, on a six month wait list for heart surgery. Had he been in the US, he would have never died.

Life in the USA has never been better. An illegal alien can walk in to a USA hospital with a critically failing heart, and get immediate open heart surgery, all at no charge to the illegal alien, courtesy of the American taxpayers.

One in the US doesn't have to work to get ample food, shelter, top medical care, and free cell phone. All courtesy of the American taxpayers.

Amazing how people don't know how well it is for non producers in the USA.

My brother in laws mother immigrated legally from Norway as a teen. Her brother stayed in Norway. A few years back he needed a heart procedure, and was put on a waiting list to have that procedure. The prospect of dying while waiting was very real. So he came here to the USA, had the procedure, and is still alive today. He likes his home country, but was very grateful to have the option of coming here for a life-saving procedure.

 

[Cujet]

maybe they just like and prefer EVs?

Did anyone ever stop and think some may just want an EV because it's an EV?

Norway is very well laid out for EV's, so they naturally work well there. Trying to escape FL from the South FL area in an EV is another matter entirely. I absolutely love EV's but the range issue hits me hard. Been there, done that. Another 1000 mile trip tomorrow or Friday.

 

[Astro_Guy]

Norway is very well laid out for EV's, so they naturally work well there. Trying to escape FL from the South FL area in an EV is another matter entirely. I absolutely love EV's but the range issue hits me hard. Been there, done that. Another 1000 mile trip tomorrow or Friday.

The crystal ball says that there is an EV in my future but I am presently committed to at least six more trips to Maine between now and late October. That's over 500 miles each way and I have been trying to wrap my head around the logistics of doing that with an EV. It seems as if two DC fast charging sessions would be needed in each direction, possibly more.

 

[Astro14]

Geez - I just got a solar quote for our Florida house and a quote for a new Tesla EV charger.

@JeffKeryk and his subliminal messaging have converted me!

 

[JeffKeryk]

Geez - I just got a solar quote for our Florida house and a quote for a new Tesla EV charger.

@JeffKeryk and his subliminal messaging have converted me!

Beats the snot outta gas stations and crazy expensive CA electricity.
Welcome to the dark side!

 

[Astro_Guy]

Beats the snot outta gas stations and crazy expensive CA electricity.

It wasn't my intention to start another Norway thread. The market shares of brands and models are the interesting thing. Let's face it, have any of you ever seen a a Toyota brand EV?

 

[Astro14]

@JeffKeryk We are at 18c/kWH in Orange County FL with full net metering. Getting quotes now, and considering options (buy v. Lease). Nowhere near as expensive as your costs, but it still looks like about an 8 year payback on buying it.

Norway, with its terrain, and latitude, is possibly the worst place for solar, but oh, my, are they set up for hydro!

In the meantime, in sunny FL, solar is looking pretty good…

Back on topic, my brother took his family (wife and two boys) to Norway last summer. Loved it. Great trip. Of course, both rental cars were EV.

 

[Astro_Guy]

@Astro14 @JeffKeryk I was in Oslo for a conference in '99. Great country and wonderful people. It's a different world and let's just leave it at that.

Getting back to the original topic, there are a lot of places here in the USA where EVs make sense and it is interesting to see what bands and models are being chosen in Norway. This could be guidance for those of us in the USA who are contempalting a change.

 

[Astro14]

I feel obliged to pint out that my great grandmother was Norwegian, so I do feel an affinity for the people and the country.

Also, an affinity for hand-forged hammers and axes, so there is that, too…

 

[JeffKeryk]

It wasn't my intention to start another Norway thread. The market shares of brands and models are the interesting thing. Let's face it, have any of you ever seen a a Toyota brand EV?

Toyota bZ is now #3 US behind the Model Y and 3.
I just helped my neighbors get a gorgeous Lexus RZ 350e; it comes in in about a week. There is zero inventory around here; all are sold while in-transit.

FWD, 300 mile range. And it's a Lexus. The combo of NACS port (Tesla Supercharger network), decent range and $6 gas has changed the Lex (and Toyletta) EV business.

 

[97prizm]

See https://thedriven.io/2026/05/05/norway-hits-record-98-6-pct-ev-share-in-april-led-by-vw-and-toyota/

Norway is an interesting case. The country itself is a little larger than New Mexico but the population is less than that of the Philadelphia metro area. Norway exports 1.5 million barrels of oil per day. In spite of this it appears that ICE vehicles are going the way of the dinosaur.

There is a lot of interesting data here in terms of company and model market shares. Toyota ranks #2 behind Volkwagon. Tesla is all the way down at #11. A little research indicates that there are over 27,000 public charge points in Norway which doesn't count the ones at private residences.

Norway taxes gas like no other on purpose to force the majority into evs. from articles in the past the whole country only sells roughly 150k vehicles a year to 170k on the high side. They could have cheap gas but force the population to go ev. Gas in Norway is $11.50-$12 a gallon.

 

[fdcg27]

Norway taxes gas like no other on purpose to force the majority into evs. from articles in the past the whole country only sells roughly 150k vehicles a year to 170k on the high side. They could have cheap gas but force the population to go ev. Gas in Norway is $11.50-$12 a gallon.

Well no, not quite that high but still not cheap:

https://www.globalpetrolprices.com/Norway/gasoline_prices/

Also far from the highest in the world:

https://www.globalpetrolprices.com/gasoline_prices/

Just imagine fueling your car in Hong Kong.

 

[Vercingetorix]

My late father in law died in Germany, on a six month wait list for heart surgery. Had he been in the US, he would have never died.

Life in the USA has never been better. An illegal alien can walk in to a USA hospital with a critically failing heart, and get immediate open heart surgery, all at no charge to the illegal alien, courtesy of the American taxpayers.

One in the US doesn't have to work to get ample food, shelter, top medical care, and free cell phone. All courtesy of the American taxpayers.

Amazing how people don't know how well it is for non producers in the USA.

And I personally knew a guy who died from the flu. Here in the USA. Could not afford to see a doctor. He died because he couldn’t afford a doctor.

 

[JeffKeryk]

And I personally knew a guy who died from the flu. Here in the USA. Could not afford to see a doctor. He died because he couldn’t afford a doctor.

Don't get me wrong I, I love it here, especially here in Silicon Valley. But to assume everything is the best, well, I'm not so sure.
I don't do absolutes.

 

[alarmguy]

And I personally knew a guy who died from the flu. Here in the USA. Could not afford to see a doctor. He died because he couldn’t afford a doctor.

He could’ve went to an emergency room
However, in a free country, you are responsible for yourself
The state is not responsible for you

 

[alarmguy]

Don't get me wrong I, I love it here, especially here in Silicon Valley. But to assume everything is the best, well, I'm not so sure.
I don't do absolutes.

No better place on earth

 

[97prizm]

And I personally knew a guy who died from the flu. Here in the USA. Could not afford to see a doctor. He died because he couldn’t afford a doctor.

This is a myth. Because hospitals take government subsidies they are legally required to tell you about your options sometimes they don't. "Hospitals rarely advertise options that reduce their revenue, but they are often required to offer, or will accept, alternatives to standard, high-interest payment plans. Beyond simple installment plans, these options include deep discounts, income-driven forgiveness, and specialized, zero-interest arrangements.".