A recent survey of 8,000 vehicle owners in Norway by Norway’s Institute of Transport Economics found that plug-in hybrids there drive electrically with power from the grid 55% of the time (and 63% on work trips), while battery electric vehicles are driven more in total and in everyday traffic.
The survey also found that buyers of battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles have different transport needs but both are motivated by economy of use and environment; battery electric vehicle owners are also motivated by a free toll road incentive. Battery electric vehicle owners are younger, have more children, a longer distance to drive work and own more vehicles than other vehicle owners.
Other findings of the survey: . . .
- Most BEV owners (71%) also own an ICEV, 4% a PHEV and 4% more than one BEV. The remaining 21% only have the one BEV. 46% of PHEV owners and 48% of ICEV owners belong to single vehicle household. The most multipurpose BEV, Tesla Model S, is twice as common in single BEV households as in households also owning ICEVs, and four times as common in households owning several BEVs.
The four reasons most frequently mentioned by the 89% of BEV owners who say they will buy a BEV again are economy of use, environmental performance, future proof technology, and the free usage of toll roads without paying. Less than 1% will not buy a BEV again. The reasons not to buy again are range and charging issues.
The three main reasons why 80% of PHEV owners say they will buy one again are economy of use, environmental performance and that the technology is future proof. Only 2% will not buy a PHEV again. The main reasons not to buy again are the short range in E-mode and inability to use E-mode when it is cold.
BEV owners use their BEVs more for all types of trips in everyday traffic but less on non-routine trips and vacation, than PHEV and ICEV owners do. . . .
User estimates for E-mode range is on average about 20% lower than the official range in E-mode in the summer and 30% lower in the winter. . . .
Vehicle purchase taxes are very high in Norway. The registration tax consists of taxes on vehicle weight, engine power, CO2-emissions and NOx-emissions. The tax is progressive, and registration tax for heavier vehicles with large engines and high emissions can be more than €15,000 (US$16,900). Tax for a typical compact vehicle could be €6,000, for a small vehicle around €2,000. BEVs are exempt from this tax; compact-sized PHEVs typically have no registration tax as the low CO2-emission value of these vehicles gives a tax deduction that can be deducted from the tax on the other elements. In addition, BEVs are exempted from the 25% VAT imposed on other vehicles. Several local incentives are also available, such as access to bus lane and free passing of toll roads.
