Norway to ban sale of all fossil fuel vehicles by 2025

Many Norwegian businesses have signed up for a new program to completely switch to electricity.

Norway currently has more than 110,000 electric cars. Photo: AFP.

Industry consultancy Energi Norge has just announced a green energy program and said that Norway could completely use clean electricity by 2050, Independent reported on August 18.

In Norway, hydropower supplies more than 96% of the country's electricity and there are more than 110,000 electric cars on the road. Ministers recently announced that Norway will ban the sale of all fossil fuel-powered vehicles after 2025.

According to Energi Norge, a full switch to electric vehicles will require “a major effort in the transport industry”.

Using sustainable energy could help alleviate the twin problems Norway faces: climate change and unemployment in the oil and gas sector, said Oluf Ulseth, director of Energi Norge. “The current regime gives us a unique opportunity to transition other sectors to electricity, thereby reducing emissions.”

"Our goal is that by 2050, based on hydropower and better cooperation between businesses and authorities, Norway will become the first country to be fully electric. That will allow us to take the lead in climate action and increase our competitiveness," said Energi Norge's director.

Mr Ulseth also noted that the transition to electricity will create jobs and new technologies. More than 100 companies have signed up for the program. "We expect production levels in the sustainable energy industry to double by 2050."

Energi Norge has announced a 24-point plan for the electric transition, including providing free charging stations for electric vehicles across the country and tax exemptions for electric vehicle drivers.

According to VNE