The Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy’s energy enterprise, Enova SF, has pledged NOK 1.55 billion (US$259 million) in investment backing for Hydro’s full scale next-generation electrolysis pilot project at Karmøy, on the west coast of Norway. This contribution is subject to approval by the European Free Trade Association’s (EFTA) surveillance authority ESA.
Through 10 months, the Nissan Leaf is Norway’s No. 4-selling car with a 3.2% share.
Tesla Motor’s all-electric Model S became the top-selling car in Norway last month, with drivers also paying a premium to buy the sports car second-hand to avoid having to wait five months for a new one, dealers said.
Norway’s buzzing little market for pure electric cars has in its very success shown the severe drawbacks to a model that relies on public subsidies worth as much as $8,200 per car, every year.
Carmakers such as Nissan, Mitsubishi, PSA/Peugeot-Citroen and Tesla Motors see Norway and its 10,000 battery-powered vehicles as a reason for optimism in otherwise gloomy terrain.
