Record sales for green vehicles in Norway

malajscy – stock.adobe.com

Frédéric Mercier

Wednesday, 3 January 2018 16:27

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Wednesday, 3 January 2018 16:27

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Clean vehicles or hybrids have accounted for more than half of new car sales last year in Norway, according to statistics published Wednesday, confirming the pioneering role of the country in the electrification of transport.

Cars zero emission (all-electric and, for a paltry portion, hydrogen) arrogated to themselves a market share of 20.9% in 2017, while that of hybrid vehicles (rechargeable or mild hybrid) reached 31.3 percent, according to figures from the Board information on the road traffic (OFV).

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This makes Norway the world leader in the electrification of road transport.

In 2016, the cars, zero-emission and hybrid were, respectively, represented 15.7% and 24.5% of the new registrations in the nordic country.

By way of comparison, in France, for example, sales of 100% electric cars accounted for 1.2% of sales in 1017 and the hybrid is 3.8%.

Norway, which is also, paradoxically, the biggest oil producer in Western Europe, has set itself the ambitious goal to no longer sell new cars with internal combustion engines as early as 2025.

Unlike cars diesel or gasoline heavily taxed, clean cars benefit from a significant tax benefit, or even virtually non-existent in the case of cars an all-electric, making their purchase price relatively competitive.

Their owners are also entitled to many privileges, such as the abolition of city tolls, ferries and parking in the public car park, but also the opportunity to travel in bus lanes.

The effects of these measures on the climate and their cost are however disputed, and the authorities plan to cut down gradually, some of the benefits in the future.

Last year, the right-wing government has attempted to remove tax exemptions on large (and luxurious) sedan to electric, but had to finally give up this “tax Tesla” in the face of opposition from its allies in the centre-right.

Electric car

And Quebec?

During this time, in Quebec, the sales of electric vehicles are rising, but remain very timid. As of September 30, last, according to the website of the Association of electric vehicles Quebec, there were 19 424 electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids on our roads. It is very little, when we know that there are more than 5.5 million registered vehicles in the province.

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However, the Québec offers financial assistance of up to$ 8,000 with the purchase of an electric vehicle. It also offers other benefits, including access to hov lanes on some highways.

Always in date of 30 September, sales for the year 2017, had already exceeded those of 2016. The sales growth is undeniable, but the objective of the quebec government to see 100 000 green vehicles registered by 2020 still seems far away.