A Historic Change in Oslo. Diesel and Petrol Are a Thing of the Past
Oslo has surpassed the threshold of 50.1 percent electric cars among passenger vehicles. It is the first Norwegian region where electric vehicles are in the majority. The milestone was reached in May 2026.
Oslo has crossed a milestone as the first county in Norway.
Materiały prasowe elbil.no/Fot. Jamieson Pothecary
The information was provided by the Norwegian Electric Vehicle Association. The organization points out that a similar threshold has already been crossed in some municipalities, including Bergen, Bærum, and Austevoll. According to the association, incentives previously used in cities played a significant role. However, the Oslo metropolitan area is the first county (fylke) where the number of electric vehicles has surpassed diesel, petrol, and hybrid cars.
Electric Cars Take Over Oslo. Did Road Tolls Help?
Christina Bu, the association's secretary general, points to historical reasons for the current results. In the early days of the market, free toll crossings were important. Access to bus lanes also mattered. This gave urban areas an advantage.
Today, electric cars also pay for tolls, but they have a lower environmental fee than combustion vehicles. The association wants to maintain this rule. According to Bu, it is important for convincing more drivers.
Today, electric cars also pay for tolls, but they have a lower environmental fee than combustion vehicles. The association wants to maintain this rule. According to Bu, it is important for convincing more drivers.
Oslo has a double status in Norway. It functions both as a municipality (kommune) and as an independent county (fylke).Photo: Knut Opeide, Statens vegvesen (illustrative photo)
Bus Lanes Still at the Center of Debate. What’s Next for Electric Cars?
The association believes that bus lanes can still support the electrification of transport, especially for electric vans and trucks. The organization wants such vehicles to have automatic access to bus lanes. The remaining capacity could be used by electric cars carrying several passengers.
Bu points out the regulations regarding bus lane signage. According to her, new rules could make local solutions easier. The Norwegian parliament has ordered regulations for electric vehicles, but the Ministry of Transport has not presented them for almost a year.
Bu points out the regulations regarding bus lane signage. According to her, new rules could make local solutions easier. The Norwegian parliament has ordered regulations for electric vehicles, but the Ministry of Transport has not presented them for almost a year.
In the municipal ranking, Askøy has the highest share of electric cars at 53.6 percent. Next are Bærum with 51.2 percent, Bergen with 50.7 percent, and Austevoll with 50.3 percent. Oslo ranks fifth with 50.1 percent. The top ten also include Lørenskog, Øygarden, Nordre Follo, Bjørnafjorden, and Asker.
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