After gaining direct political influence in 2013, MDG has also pushed heavily for the implementation of policies that encourage the use of electric cars, public transportation, biking and walking, while discouraging the use of carbon emitting vehicles. So far, several policies have been established over the past few years following MDG and other green parties' influence.
Firstly, Norway has increased the number and price of tolls throughout the country, particularly focusing on urban areas. In fact, as recent as October 1, 2017, Norway put a new rule in place. The government added a toll in the busy stretch between the neighboring county Bærum and Oslo, with a fee of approximately $2.00. However, the big change was the price hike of the other Oslo tolls. Prices surged from about $4.50 to about $6.50 on average for regular cars. Furthermore, zero-emission vehicles, such as electric cars, can pass the toll for free (Eide, 2017).
Discouraging carbon emitting cars in isolation provides an incentive for consumers to substitute gasoline and diesel cars with electric cars. To further encourage this, Norway has also provided several benefits for electric car owners, which is the reason for the booming increase of Teslas in Norway. The model Tesla S is 100 % electric, but Tesla cars are known to be expensive world-wide. However, in 2014, Tesla broke the record of sales in a month of a single model of any cars. This occurred because Norwegian government has enacted several policies to incentivize the purchase and sale of Tesla S cars. Buyers enjoy numerous benefits, such as free parking, free charging stations, zero registration fees, and tax deduction on their income tax. On the business side, sellers do not have to pay sales tax. The combination of these factors has resulted in Teslas selling for an affordable $70 000, and in the long-term being a cheaper option to most gasoline or diesel-fueled cars (Harris, 2017).
These policies also apply to other electric cars, which has resulted in an abundance of electric cars in Norway. In 2016, the percentage electric cars bought in Norway of all cars purchased was about 29 %. In addition, this number is increasing, as the share has gone up to about 37 % in 2017. In comparison, the share of electric cars purchased of all cars in the US in 2016 was less than 1 % (Harris, 2017).
Furthermore, Norway has focused on improving its public transportation. Public transportation is government controlled, and is divided into sectors based on location. In each sector, there is an organization for public transportation. For example, in Oslo and the rest of eastern Norway, “Ruter” is the government controlled service for public transportation, including trains, buses, metros, and even ferries. To ensure that public transportation is practical, tickets are bought based on zones instead of the mode of public transportation. In addition, public transportation is often cheaper than driving a car. In fact, when Norway recently increased the price of tolls in Oslo, the government complemented this change with a decrease in the price of public transportation (Eide, 2017). By eliminating private competitors and making public transportation affordable and practical, the Norwegian government incentivizes the use of public transportation.
The city of Oslo has also emphasized improving the infrastructure for pedestrians and bicyclists. To begin, Oslo has plenty of walkways, where cars are banned. For instance, the main road between the Parliament and Oslo Central Station is exclusively a walkway. Furthermore, Oslo has also introduced a cheap and practical bike-lending option. The system is called Oslo City Bikes, and has over 100 stations throughout Oslo. A season-pass is only about $35, with the season lasting from April to November (Visit Oslo, 2017). In addition, Oslo and its suburbs have integrated bike lanes, to ensure the safety of bikers. Amenities such as free bike pumps, bike parking, and secure bike storage are also to the disposal of bikers in Oslo (Oslo Kommune, 2017).
Sources:
Eide, Cathrine. (2017, September 30).Venter en klagestorm. TV2. Retrieved May 3, 2018, from http://www.tv2.no/nyheter/9384125/
Harris, Johnny. (2017, June 9). Why Norway is full of Teslas. Vox. Retrieved May 3, 2018, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSjYra7cYqY
Oslo Kommune. (2017). Sykkel. Retrieved May 3, 2018, from https://www.oslo.kommune.no/gate-transport-og-parkering/sykkel/#gref