Electric self drive tours in Norway

Norway may be the one of the most scenic places in the world for a self drive vacation. It’s certainly one of the easiest for getting around in an electric car. The charging network here is so extensive that you can have complete confidence in getting a top-up whenever and wherever you need one, even overnight at your hotel.

Many travelers – even those who drive an EV at home – remain unconvinced about hiring an electric car when abroad. But in Norway, where a quarter of all cars on the road are electric and every other new car purchased is a plug-in electric, you can leave any doubts by the wayside.

Government policy, including substantial tax incentives, has led to Norway earning the crown of world’s highest EV ownership per capita. The electricity powering those vehicles is also some of the planet’s cleanest – some 90 percent of it comes from hydropower (though hydro does, of course, have significant downsides, such as the impact of river damming on biodiversity).

Norway’s push for electric cars aligns with its policy on the cruise ships that roam the fjords and skerries of the Atlantic coast. Strict environmental standards are being phased in, with the aim that all vessels must be 100 percent electric by 2032.

Should I rent an electric car in Norway?

Yes, you really should. The convenience of renting an electric car in Norway cannot be overstated, as far as Jane Slade of our partner Regent Vacations is concerned: “When you pick your vehicle up from the airport or downtown, the car hire firm goes through everything with you: your built-in satnav, your built-in apps that tell you where the charging stations are and what the availability is like. And then, obviously, you've got your charging plugs and 24/7 support in case you do get into difficulty. So, everything is covered, you can feel 100 percent confident when you drive off in that electric vehicle.”
Everything is covered, you can feel 100 percent confident when you drive off in that electric vehicle
If you use an electric car at home, either regularly or occasionally, you’ll be familiar with the mainstream makes and models on the roads in Norway. And because this is not an inexpensive country to travel in, going electric on a self drive tour can save you a significant amount on fuel. Furthermore, there is very little difference in cost between hiring an electric car or an ICE (petrol or diesel) car here.
We’ll ensure that you are booked into hotels with their own chargers

Is it easy to find charging stations for electric cars in Norway?

“When you look at the EV charging network on a map, it’s really dense,” says Jane. Electric car charging in Norway is a breeze, even in more remote areas like the Lofoten Islands. It’s rare that you’ll need to wait around for a charger to free up. With our EV self drive tours in Norway, we’ll ensure that throughout your stay you are booked into hotels that have their own chargers. That means you never need to worry about finding one on the road, and you can be confident in traveling wherever you like.

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Norway road trips by electric car: where to go

Bergen to Trondheim up the Atlantic Coast

The average charge on a typical electric car will carry you up to 350km, which is more than enough for pretty much any road trip itinerary in Norway. “This is our top destination for self drive, especially in the summer months (June to August)”, says Jane. “A popular route is the up the Atlantic Coast, which takes you from Bergen up to Trondheim so you're following the fjords up the west coast.”

This coastal itinerary, typically around 10 days or so, unfolds through some of the most dramatic and beguiling scenery in all of Scandinavia. The most breathtaking section is the shortest, a 9km stretch between Bud and Kristiansund formed of eight bridges that link a series of small islands, taking you right to the edge of the ocean.

Other highlights of the Bergen to Trondheim route include Maloy, a picturesque coastal community where you can walk along a lovely long expanse of white sand; the ruins of an ancient Benedictine monastery on the island of Selja, and the Art Nouveau architecture of Alesund. Stop off here for a couple of days, perhaps, and you can enjoy a little hiking, sea kayaking or a RIB safari in search of puffins and dolphins.

Oslo to Bergen, via the Norwegian fjords

The fjords that cleave Norway’s Atlantic coast make divine territory for drivers, every bend in the road offering more stunning views than the last. A road trip through the fjords might start and end in the capital, Oslo, from where you can take the 300km drive northwest to Flam. Pop open your charging app, find a charging station, and leave the car to top up while you take a quick spin on the Flamsbana, a wonderfully scenic rail journey through the Flamsdalen, a valley where waterfalls tumble prettily down the mountainsides. The line’s steep gradient and many curves make the experience what a lesser writer might declare… electrifying.

From Flam you can also take a cruise along the Naeroyfjord, a branch of the vast Sognefjord, before continuing on to Bergen. Wander the Hanseatic warehouses that line the Bryggen dock, and feast on seafood rolls in the Torget fish market. When it’s time to head back to Oslo, your route notes will no doubt recommend the road to Eidfjord via Tysse, the better to appreciate the majesty of the Hardangerfjord, the second-longest in Norway.

While most electric car self drive vacations in Norway go in summer, you can also travel in winter perfectly easily, and enjoy far less-crowded roads. Fly into Tromso, and you can take in the North Cape, mainland Europe’s most northerly point. The freedom of a self drive trip means that you divert as you please to try, husky sledding, snowmobile safaris and even perhaps a stay in an ice hotel.
Written by Rob Perkins
Photo credits: [Page banner: Nicki Eliza Schinow (Unsplash)] [Should I rent an electric car in Norway?: Mario Duran-Ortiz] [Chargers: Daniel Mietchen] [Bergen to Trondheim up the Atlantic Coast: Christoph Grabietz]