According to figures from the Road Traffic Information Council, up to 88 per cent of all new taxis purchased in Norway in 2023 were electric.
Therefore, the taxi industry is ahead in electrification compared to the rest of the country’s new car buyers.
In overall new car sales, the proportion of electric cars ended last year at 82.4 per cent.
“There are many taxis, especially in large cities. Their transition to electric contributes to a better urban environment, less local air pollution, and a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions,” says Christina Bu from the Electric Vehicle Association.
“It’s impressive how the taxi industry is changing; they now need a good charging offer,” she continues.
It’s worth mentioning that in Bergen and Stavanger, the proportion of electric cars among new taxis last year was 100 per cent.
In Trondheim, the proportion was 97 per cent, while in Oslo, it ended at 90 percent.
It’s noteworthy that many municipalities have set deadlines for when all taxi licenses must be electric.
In Hordaland, all units must be electric from April 1 this year, and the requirement will be extended to Sogn og Fjordane on April 1, 2026.
In Oslo, the requirement applies from November 1, 2024, while in Buskerud, Akershus, and Østfold, it applies from October 1, 2027.
Similar requirements are also being considered in typical county districts such as Trøndelag, Nordland, and Rogaland.
It’s worth mentioning that in the capital, Oslo Taxi and other companies are clear that they want to contribute to decarbonizing the sector.
Tonje Grave, CEO of Oslo Taxi, says they are doing everything they can to meet the zero-emission requirement and contribute to ecological change in the capital.
But Grave is concerned about the charging offer, a concern shared by Christina Bu.
In this regard, a key to making the transition work is sufficient charging infrastructure.
“We have several taxi drivers as company members, and they contact us concerned that the charging offer is not good enough,” acknowledges Bu.
“Now it’s important to build enough fast chargers so drivers don’t have to queue for charging while they’re at work,” she adds.
She also acknowledges that while open commercial charging stations are important, in some places, authorities should complement them with fast chargers reserved for taxis.
