Politicians have that as their goal. But only 1 in 10 Norwegians believe that electric cars will replace all gasoline and diesel cars this year.
A new survey shows that only one in 10 Norwegians believe that electric cars will completely outcompete gasoline and diesel cars in the near future. This is despite the fact that electric car sales in Norway have experienced a significant increase in recent years.
According to NAF, which is the Norwegian answer to FDM, a 2024 survey on attitudes towards electric cars shows that as many as 89 percent of respondents are skeptical about whether the goal of selling exclusively zero-emission cars by 2025 will be achieved.
– Although sales figures point to us approaching the electric car target, there is widespread doubt among the population, says Nils Sodal from NAF in a press release .
By 2024, electric cars accounted for 89 percent of total car sales in Norway. From August to December, the share was above 90 percent every month except December. In September, electric car sales even reached a record of 96.4 percent.
– Figures from the last months of 2024 indicate that electric cars have become the preferred choice for most car buyers.
– We expect this trend to continue and that around 95 percent of all new cars in 2025 will be electric cars, says Sodal.
However, he acknowledges that there will still be a need for other types of vehicles than electric cars in the future.
"However, if 95 percent or more choose an electric car, the goal can be considered effectively achieved," he adds.
The survey also shows that 46 percent of Norwegians plan to buy their next car using electricity. This proportion has been relatively stable in recent years.
– This suggests that a significant part of the population is not yet convinced of the benefits of emission-free cars, notes Sodal.
"Therefore, it is crucial that the government maintains the current tax benefits for electric cars for a period of time."
Among current electric car owners, 77 percent say they will also choose an electric car the next time they buy a car. In comparison, the figure is only 25 percent for those who do not own an electric car today.
– Experience shows that those who have already switched to electric cars rarely return to petrol or diesel cars, concludes NAF.
