Image: Mercedes-Benz
Norway’s Environmental Protection Agency and the National Public Roads Administration are suggesting a revised climate goal for commercial vans, pushing the deadline for the exclusive sale of zero-emission vehicles from 2025 to 2027.
This adjustment aligns with calls from Norsk elbilforening, Norway's electric vehicle association, as the country has fallen significantly short of the previous goal for electric van registrations. In 2023, less than 29% of light commercial vehicles sold were electric, compared to a remarkable 82% for passenger cars.
In early 2024, Norsk elbilforening expressed doubts about meeting the 2025 decarbonization target for vans. Currently, there are approximately 500,000 vans registered in Norway, which constitute about 15% of the total vehicle fleet, yet these vehicles account for nearly 27% of CO2 emissions.
The authorities are now backing the 2027 target and have proposed initiatives to support its achievement, such as lowering taxes on electric vans, enhancing charging infrastructure, and providing tax incentives and usage benefits for electric van owners, including toll exemptions. However, these proposals remain recommendations at this stage, and a formal decision is still awaited.
Original News Website:
electrive.com, miljodirektoratet.no via elbil.no (in Norwegian)