How to go on an EV
road trip in Norway
Ready for next-level road tripping?
Cruise silently and emission-free through pristine Norwegian nature in an electric vehicle!
“What I like about EVs is the absence of noise and the very, very pleasant acceleration.”
Axel E. Catton
Automotive journalist
Automotive journalist Axel E. Catton has taken plenty of EVs for a spin. We have gathered his best tips and tricks, so that you can get the most out of your trip!
Are there enough charging stations? Will the battery last over the mountain passes? Which precautions should I take when driving an EV in winter? How can I save money driving an EV? Here's everything you need to know about exploring Norway in an EV.
Norway is way ahead of the game when it comes to e-transport, making it the perfect place for a roadtrip in an EV.
"The roads I enjoyed most were in the very north, including from the North Cape down to Målselv on the E6."
Although automotive journalist Axel E. Catton writes mostly about classic cars, he enjoys completing long distance drives in EVs, as a lot of people don't think it's possible.
Catton has previously driven around the Norwegian fjords on the west coast. In 2024, he also tested what it felt like to drive almost the entire length of Norway in an EV, on an epic 2,565 kilometre-long road trip from the North Cape to the capital city Oslo, in a 2024 Mercedes Benz EQE 53 AMG with a 460 kilometre range.
Catton could have easily reached Oslo a lot quicker than he did by staying on the main motorway, the E6, between Northern and Southern Norway, but he wanted to stay as far west as possible. He particularly enjoyed driving on what is known as Kystriksveien, frequently rated one of the most beautiful road journeys in the world.
“The best part was the most western route down from Saltstraumen to Brønnøysund (413 km), where I took no less than five ferries in a day. It was twists and bends and forests and simply magical.”
He was often alone on these coastal roads, despite it being July, and recalls it being a very satisfying drive.
Check out his best tips and tricks for a smooth electric road trip in Norway!
Charging your EV
Many people are concerned there are enough places to charge their EV, but they can put their mind to rest, as you can drive hundreds of kilometres before you need to worry about charging.
“Keep calm and look ahead. There's no reason to get worked up. Norway is a prime destination for electric cars, thanks to its powerful network," says Catton.
There are almost 30,000 charging points and over 8,000 fast chargers as of August 2024, according to NOBIL. No need for range anxiety!
Catton recommends using charging stops as an opportunity to take a break and go exploring, or enjoy a meal. His intention while driving was that he would tell the car what he wanted to do and not the other way round. That way you won't feel like you're spending most of your time waiting.
"Parking is also cheaper or free in a lot of places. At charging spots you usually just pay for the energy," according to Catton.
You can easily find charging points on ladestasjoner.no's map or by searching for them in Google maps or Apple maps, for example. Many modern cars also show you their charging network and have accompanying apps.
You might find it useful to take the time to register with some of the major providers in advance for quicker and cheaper charging.
Plan to stay at accommodation with overnight charging in order to make things easier for yourself. It's also possible to register your desired percentage upon arrival into some car systems and find out where to charge on the way.
Norway has a lot of charging options, but it's worth noting that you shouldn't empty your battery completely before your next stop, as you can run into unforeseen issues, such as a charger that is out of order.
Catton has had one unfortunate incident during his travels in Norway. He was trying to charge his car at his accommodation far away from the main road, and stumbled upon a charging fault where the car wouldn't read the charger. This meant that he had to drive 27 kilometres to the next charging spot, leaving him with a mere 3 percent upon arrival. Luckily it only took an hour to bring the battery back to 100 percent.
One important thing to mention is that there's a difference when it comes to charging options between Northern and Southern Norway.
"I drove down from the North. It wasn't difficult and I never really felt in trouble, however I was aware that you have to pay more attention, as the chargers are further away from each other."
- Axel E. Catton
Automotive journalist
Catton happily ignored charging spots in Southern Norway, as he knew he'd easily find another one later, while in the North he made sure to do the exact opposite due to the long distances between the villages and fewer charging options.
Winter driving
It's no secret that there's quite a difference between summer and winter driving, especially in an EV where the colder temperatures can affect battery life.
Most EVs have a range extension mode, which gives you more kilometres in exchange for turning off electric items in the car that use energy, like air conditioning and music. This can be fine to use during the warmer months, but having to turn off your heating in the winter months is not that great.
Winter driving requires more awareness in general. If you're in an EV, be sure to stop and charge your car when you can, particularly in the parts of Norway where the chargers are further apart. You never know if you'll get stuck in traffic or if a road may close due to bad weather, so don't let your battery run too low.
According to Catton, electric cars have reached a range that's very acceptable and will carry on improving from here. According to EVspecs.org, brands like Tesla and Nio have already engineered electric cars with ranges of around 1,000km, which will definitely help when it comes to driving in colder weather.
Other challenges?
You may also be concerned about charging queues and faster battery reduction from driving over steep mountain passes, but you don't have to worry about this.
Catton has never struggled to find a charging spot on his road trips in Norway. When it comes to mountain passes, the EVs he has driven recoup a lot of energy when going downhill. Just be sure to have enough power to get to the top! Catton hasn't noticed much of a difference in energy consumption between straight roads and mountain passes.
One thing that you should be aware of for further travel is that regular island ferries take all kinds of cars, while the Havila and Hurtigruten ships that travel between Bergen and Kirkenes have different policies. Due to safety reasons, Havila ships do not currently permit electric, hybrid or hydrogen vehicles on board. However, you can bring your car with you on Hurtigruten(very limited capacity, though). We recommend checking with the company before booking.
Beautiful places to drive
On to the fun part! Where should you go in your EV?
The answer is simple: anywhere! But a good tip is to get off the main roads, and take the quieter back roads.
Just remember that many of these roads are narrow and winding, especially in the west. Keep in mind that you might be driving around fjords, over mountain passes, and waiting for the post woman at designated stopping places, because the road is too narrow for two cars... So even though your final destination appears close on the map, it may take longer than you think to get there.
This is also why you shouldn't try to see all, or a lot of Norway, in a short period of time. Our best tip is to concentrate on one or several regions, in order to explore the area in the way it deserves. Your top favourite experience might just be somewhere off the beaten path, instead of at the typical bucket list spots.
For beautiful drives all over the country, consider experiencing the Norwegian Scenic Routes, which combine nature, architecture, and design.
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