Norway, one of the world’s largest exporters of oil, now has more electric cars on its roads than petrol-driven vehicles.
Of the 2.8 million private cars registered there, 754,303 are now all-electric, compared with 753,905 that run on petrol, according to new figures from the Norwegian Road Federation.
The Nordic country of 5.5 million people is aiming to become the first nation to end the sale of new petrol and diesel cars – by 2025.
Sales of electric vehicles (EVs) have been boosted by tax breaks and other incentives, funded in large part from the money Norway makes out of oil and gas.
The country has a sovereign wealth fund worth more than $1.7 trillion (£1.3tn), built up from the proceeds of its oilfields, to act as a “pension fund” for when it runs out.
This cash cushion has made it possible for the government to offer green incentives to motorists, including exempting electric car buyers from sales tax.
In the early days of the EV revolution, Norway’s environmental activists even enlisted the help of the country’s biggest pop group, A-ha, to promote the use of the vehicles.
Despite this milestone, there is still work to be done. Diesel models remain most numerous at just under one million, but their sales are falling rapidly, says the Norwegian Road Federation.
Read more: BBC
