EV-friendly Norway warms up to the Nissan Leaf

Norway, which could be looking at an all-electric motoring future by 2025, is seeing a rapid expansion in its electric vehicle (EV) population.

Nissan says that new sales figures show that so far in 2016, its Leaf – the world’s best-selling EV – is now the third best-selling passenger car overall in Norway.

There are already close to 25,000 Leafs on Norwegian roads and sales in the country are growing at a robust pace, with 2,450 units sold so far in 2016 – an increase of 58.7 percent compared with the same period last year. These figures come after Nissan announced sales of 16,916 electric cars in Europe for the 2015-16 fiscal year – a new annual record.

Norway has one of the largest EV markets in Europe, with EVs accounting for 15 percent of new car sales so far in 2016. Nissan says it has supported the development of quick charging infrastructure for EVs in Norway, partnering with supermarket chain, KIWI, to install 50 quick chargers at their stores throughout the country.

Gareth Dunsmore, director of electric vehicles, Nissan Europe, says, “Norway is spearheading the switch to sustainable mobility and we’re delighted that the Leaf continues to be ranked as one of the most popular vehicles in the country.”

Launched in Europe earlier this year, the Nissan Leaf 30 kWh delivers up to 250km of driving range on a single charge – a 26 percent increase on its predecessor.