Norway remains at the forefront in Europe despite the decline in certain advantages

The market is growing in France but remains far from Norway, where more than eight out of ten new cars sold are electric, thanks in particular to financial incentives.

At COP28, discussions will focus on the subject of energy on Tuesday December 5, with the central question of phasing out fossil fuels. Can we do without oil, for example in transport? It is one of the sectors that emits the most greenhouse gases and therefore contributes to global warming. One of the avenues is the transition to electric cars.

In France, this market is growing: in recent months, nearly one in five new cars sold is electric. But we are still far from Norway, where more than eight out of ten new cars are used! Drivers are strongly encouraged to buy an electric car with a range of financial incentives.

Eric Dubern has been driving electric for around ten years, in the quieter and less polluted streets of Oslo. This 46-year-old Frenchman was first attracted by the competitive price, thanks to the sharp reduction or even elimination of purchase taxes. “The electric car very quickly reached parity with the thermal car”estimates Eric Dubern, who was also seduced by all the other advantages.

Some advantages of the electric car are reduced

But these advantages are gradually being reduced. “We could park for free, charge for free on the streets in Oslo, in accessible bus lanes, remembers this Frenchman. Typically, there, we are on a bus lane. On high traffic days it was very effective. Knowing that we are now at 80% new electric cars, these little touches are reduced. We are going to have paid charging places. A recharge overnight, for 400 kilometers, will cost me around twenty euros. This remains very competitive, particularly in this country which, although an oil producer, has the most expensive gasoline in the world. Ten euros per liter, already ten years ago!”

At the same time, the network of terminals has developed in recent years, including fast charging for long distances. So if Norway succeeds, despite the mountains, despite the cold which reduces the capacity of the batteries, Eric Dubern assures us: France too, can switch to electric cars, in the short term.