The electric car benefits are becoming fewer and fewer. From 1 January, the government introduced 25 per cent VAT on prices exceeding NOK 500,000 for electric cars. In addition, a weight tax of NOK 12.50 per kilogram exceeding NOK 500 was introduced on all cars. Since the electric cars, with their heavy batteries, weigh significantly more than fossil cars, this affects them most strongly.
This means that it has become slightly more expensive to buy a new electric car, but once you have it home in the yard, it is far cheaper to use than a petrol or diesel car. What makes it particularly favorable is the fuel costs.
VAT-free range winners
Leave at home
– You get the biggest advantage if you can charge the car at home, says Nils Sødal, senior communications advisor at NAF.
He has calculated what the fuel costs of an electric car, versus a fossil car, are over the course of a year. The conclusion is that you quickly save NOK 10,000–12,000 a year with an electric car just in fuel.
12,000 a YEAR: With VAT and weight tax, it has become more expensive to buy a new electric car, but it is cheaper to own. Photo: Mirva Kakko
sea view
The power support saves you
– The biggest advantage electric car owners now have is something the government has never introduced as an electric car advantage, namely fuel costs. If you can charge your electric car at home, it is significantly cheaper than filling up with petrol or diesel, asserts Sødal.
– We have long had the advantage of low electricity prices in Norway. After the prices have skyrocketed, the electricity subsidy saves electric car charging at home.
Drops petrol and diesel
Saves 12,000
– With a spot price of an average of NOK 1.50 per kilowatt hour (kWh) over a year, charging an electric car with a mileage of 12,000 kilometers and an average consumption of 19 kWh per 100 kilometers would cost around NOK 5,800 a year without electricity support. With electricity support, it will cost around NOK 3,800, including VAT and online rent, explains Sødal.
NAF’s calculations show that the fuel costs for a diesel car with the same mileage, average consumption of 0.65 liters per mile and a price per liter of NOK 20 will be around NOK 15,600 a year.
THE BIGGEST ADVANTAGE: – The biggest advantage electric car owners now have is something the government has never introduced as an electric car advantage, namely the fuel costs, says Nils Sødal in NAF. Photo: NAF
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Cheap regardless of electricity price
– If the average spot price of electricity instead was five kroner per kWh, charging an electric car would be slightly more expensive than filling a diesel car, if it hadn’t been for the electricity subsidy. With electricity support, the charging cost would still not be higher than NOK 4,800, according to Sødal.
Million queue for this one
More benefits
Although the benefits for electric cars have become fewer, they still have benefits that count in the wallet. The government has raised the limit for payment at the tolls to a maximum of 70 percent of what other cars pay, but electric cars still run significantly cheaper at most tolls. Electric cars pay a maximum of half price on the ferries.
In many places, electric cars have cheaper parking in municipal car parks. With some exceptions, electric cars can drive in public transport lanes. In addition, it is cheaper to service an electric car than a fossil car.
