Get closer to Norwegian nature
in an electric car

For people who seek to travel through Norway in an environmentally sustainable fashion, an electric car is something to seriously consider. But what do you do if you don’t own an electric car yourself? And how far will pure electricity really take you when you’re out on those long snaking Norwegian roads?

First things first: Getting a car. Most rental car companies now provide electric cars. You can also use the popular car-sharing service Nabobil which allow you to rent privately owned cars.

Once through the process of acquiring an electric car, the other hurdle – distance – is minor. The average distance an electric car will cover on a single charge is well over 200 kilometres, and charging stations are springing up like mushrooms along Norwegian roads these days.

“Fast charging stations are being rolled out every fifty kilometres on all main roads”, says chief communicator Petter Haugneland of the Norwegian Electric Vehicle Association.

“Also, more and more hotels offer electric car chargers, which allow you to spend the night and start your day on a full charge.”

There are several ways to locate charging stations, for instance a map provided by ladestasjoner.no. To make sure you have access to the charging stations, it is important to register with the major providers in advance – payment is usually done through a specialized charging chip or by text message.

Winter charging in Oslo. #EV #elbil #charging #elbilforeningen #evnorway #snow

Et innlegg delt av Norsk elbilforening (@elbilforeningen) mandag 11. Jan.. 2016 PST

“The two big national providers are Grønn Kontakt and Fortum are the two big national operators. Check with them, and you’ll be pretty well covered.”

Compared to a regular car holiday, there’s no denying the fact that an environmentally sustainable electric car holiday does require some extra effort and planning.

In return, however, it might just make your vacation that much more enjoyable. Haugneland highlights a project in Geiranger and Flåm, where the company eMobility has set up a rental service for a car/scooter hybrid with two seats and open sides.

“This lets you take in the surrounding nature with no motor noise. That makes for a completely different experience than riding a bus or driving a diesel car.”

Back in 2015, Haugneland’s organization invited more than 50 electric cars to form a motorcade on the roads of Geiranger, proving that they’re not just for city use. You can see more of that in the video below.

While it can heighten the experience, this type of travel is also a greener alternative to cruise boats and tourist buses, especially in regards to air pollution.

“Emission-free driving is a contribution to preserving the local environment”, Haugneland says.

On the subject of Geiranger, he also recommends the electric bike rental service offered by Hotel Aak. The on-board motor will come in handy if you decide to ascend Trollstigen (The Troll’s Road).

“I tried that myself. Biking up Trollstigen on an electric bike was incredibly fun. You get to experience more of nature, without exhausting yourself completely on the way up.”

For people aiming for an electric car holiday on Norwegian roads, Haugneland’s general recommendation is to keep in mind that the range of electric cars decreases when driving on highways.

“Coastal routes with lower average speeds may be preferable. You’ll get further, and you’ll get to experience Norway in a completely different way.”