Norway discusses ban on petrol and diesel cars by 2025

The potential ban on fossil-fuel powered cars has made front page news in Norway

The potential ban on fossil-fuel powered cars has made front page news in Norway

Norway is considering a ban on petrol and diesel cars by 2025, according to Norwegian newspaper Dagens Næringsliv.

The new law has been proposed in a white paper that calls for new private cars, buses and light commercial vehicles to be zero-emission after 2025. Norway’s four primary political parties are debating the idea.

Electric car sales account for around 24% of Norway’s new car market. However, Norway is also a major oil exporter.

Oslo, the Norwegian capital is planning to ban private cars from its centre by 2019. The move is part of the new city government’s plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2020, compared with 1990 levels, and reduce automobile traffic by 20% in 2019 and 30% in 2030. More bicycle lanes will be built and electric bicycle purchases will be subsidised by the government as part of the scheme.