Almost all new car sales in Norway last month were EVs

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Policy & Market Shaping in Norway

  • Norway heavily taxes ICE and larger/polluting cars, and lowers taxes and fees for EVs.
  • EVs get perks like cheaper parking and bus-lane access (sometimes with odd implementation glitches).
  • Some see this as “distorting the market”; others frame it as finally pricing in pollution externalities and health costs.
  • Incentives have been gradually reduced as EV adoption has surged, but the system still makes ICE purchases comparatively unreasonable.

Affordability & Equity

  • Commenters stress that the stats refer to new car sales; lower‑income buyers still rely on used ICE or cheaper used EVs.
  • Several examples: used Leafs and Bolts under ~$20k, sometimes as low as $4k, presented as the “affordable” option relative to taxed ICE.
  • Some argue ultra‑cheap “$1,000 beaters” will vanish as even dead EV batteries retain scrap/reuse value.

Charging, Infrastructure & Use Cases

  • Norway’s success is linked to decades of grid and charging build‑out, plus geography with limited long, flat highway drives.
  • Many charge at home or in communal housing-association lots; some cities have curbside or lamp‑post chargers.
  • In the US, home-charging potential is high for single‑family homes, but public infrastructure outside some states is called “pathetic.”

Economics: Fuel, Maintenance & Taxes

  • Many EV drivers report significant fuel savings and lower maintenance, expecting the car to “pay for itself” in a few years.
  • Others point out high electricity prices in some regions (e.g., PG&E territory) where hybrids or ICE can still win on running costs.
  • EV-specific registration surcharges are growing to replace lost gas-tax revenue; flat fees are criticized as unfair to low‑milers.

Batteries, Used EVs & Reliability

  • Debate over battery longevity: some say modern packs last the vehicle’s life; others note early Leafs’ faster degradation and high replacement cost.
  • Reported real‑world data: many EVs level off around ~80% capacity; this is fine for short‑range users but limiting for long commutes.
  • Linked reports of bricked Leafs and legal disputes make some wary and inclined to “wait out” early-generation issues.

Culture, Status & Vehicle Preferences

  • In the US, social signaling, hostility toward EVs in some regions, and love of SUVs/pickups are seen as major barriers.
  • Several argue SUVs are marketed and subsidized into dominance rather than genuinely more practical than wagons or small cars.
  • Others emphasize large families, long suburban trips, and comfort as real drivers of SUV demand.

Environmental & Energy Context

  • Critics highlight Norway’s petroleum exports as hypocritical; defenders counter that oil wealth is used to fund a sovereign fund and domestic decarbonization.
  • Norway’s electricity mix is noted as overwhelmingly hydro, so “electricity falling from the sky” via rain and snow is only a slight exaggeration.
  • EVs reduce peak urban noise (no engine revving), but at higher speeds tire and wind noise dominate, so overall city noise reduction is mixed.

Edge Cases & Limitations

  • Commenters note missing products: capable long-range, high-clearance 4x4 EVs for remote or off-road use remain scarce or too expensive.
  • Long road trips and extreme commutes (40–60+ miles one way) remain problematic for older, low-range used EVs like early Leafs without fast, ubiquitous charging.