– Can provide an acceptable noise level for cyclists
The government proposes to abolish the environmental tax rule for electric vehicles at tolls.
10/07/2026 12:00 | Updated 13:44
In its proposed state budget, the government is considering removing the environmental tax for electric vehicles at tolls in Nord-Jæren. The Rogaland county council has requested this from the government.
In practice, this means the government now intends to eliminate the national rule requiring electric vehicles to pay at most 70 percent of the tax rate for fossil fuel cars when paying tolls.
“As fossil fuels become more expensive, the government should make it easier for those facing high bills to choose used electric vehicles. This is the complete opposite,” says Christina Bu, general secretary of the Electric Vehicle Association.
If the Nord-Jæren region gets the chance to set the tax on electric cars at 100 percent of that on fossil fuel cars, it will have a domino effect on a number of car tax projects across the country in the coming time, according to Elbilforeningen.
- Huge tax increase
- This is a huge tax increase both for those who bought electric cars in good faith and for those who still need to be convinced. Many are considering buying electric cars going forward, and this doesn’t help them in any way, continues Christina Bu.
The tax exemption for electric cars was introduced in 1997 and later changed to a national rule requiring electric cars to pay an environmental tax.
“By doing this, the government is abandoning the principle that polluters should pay. We expect the Storting to address this during negotiations on the state budget,” says Bu.
The change is discussed on page 125 of the Ministry of Transport’s budget proposal.
Flawed Conclusion
Torleif Hodne from the Rogaland Electric Vehicle Association responds to the government’s proposal, arguing that the entire reasoning presented by the Rogaland county council is based on a flawed conclusion when they claim that an environmental tax on electric vehicles leads to increased traffic.
It is entirely possible to avoid increased traffic while introducing electric vehicles. Several cities have already succeeded in doing this, according to Hodne.
– If you have an electric vehicle and a gasoline car, you’ll choose the electric one when you need a car. But more people should choose electric vehicles going forward, and at a time when many drivers are facing high fuel costs, this is the wrong message to send.
More on the government’s proposal for the state budget can be found here:
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