Bought an EV in Norway because it was cheaper? You could lose key benefits

Currently, EV drivers pay no more than 70 percent of the standard rate. According to the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK), the proposal to grant new powers to local authorities was included in the draft state budget. The matter has not yet been decided. Rogaland County Council and the municipalities would decide whether to remove the discount, and local politicians want to consider this option.

Per Bergquist was filling up his diesel car at a station in Stavanger. In an interview with NRK, he said that the current distribution of costs is unfair to people who do not drive electric cars. He pointed to the high charges paid by this group. In his view, there are now so many EVs that their owners should contribute more to financing the road network.

Erik Andersen has a different opinion. The EV owner, encountered at a nearby charging station, believes that additional charges undermine the point of buying such a car. He confirmed that the discounts were one of the reasons for his choice. “Taking away the benefits associated with EVs is complete madness,” he said, adding that he hopes the incentives will remain in place.

The changes are opposed by Green Party (MDG) MP Margit Bye. In her view, withdrawing discounts after years of assurances that using a more environmentally friendly car would be cheaper undermines trust in climate policy. The MDG has announced that it will raise the issue during budget negotiations. Bye stresses that the party supports reducing car traffic in major cities, but wants to retain incentives to choose lower-emission vehicles. She also points out that many Norwegian residents need a car in their daily lives.

Christina Bu is also concerned about a precedent. The secretary general of the Norwegian Electric Vehicle Association (Elbilforeningen) warns that allowing the discount to be abolished in Nord-Jæren could encourage other regions to introduce similar changes. She does not dispute that EV drivers should contribute to road funding. However, she stresses that the level of charges should depend on the vehicle’s emissions, and expresses gratitude that the issue has been included in the budget talks.

According to figures from the Norwegian Road Federation (OFV), cited by NRK, EVs accounted for around 96 percent of new cars sold in Norway last year. However, their share among cars on Norwegian roads is only one-third. Bu points out that the remaining drivers still need to be convinced to choose EVs.