By AFP
February 3, 2025

Norway aims for all new cars sold to be 'zero emission' starting in 2025, which is 10 years ahead of the goal set by the European Union - Copyright AFP Christophe ARCHAMBAULT
Pierre-Henry DESHAYES
Almost 96 percent of new cars registered in Norway in January were electric, an unparalled number in the world and close to the country’s goal of selling only zero-emission vehicles as of this year.
A total of 9,343 new cars were sold in January, of which 8,954 were all-electric, the Norwegian Road Federation (OFV) said.
Of the 50 most-sold models, only two were non-electric, the first of which came in 33rd place, the OFV said.
By comparison, the share of electric cars in Europe was just 13.6 percent in the full-year 2024, a decline for the first time since 2020, according to the car manufacturers’ lobby ACEA.
“We’ve never seen this before… If the rest of the year continues like this, we will very soon be close to the 2025 goal,” OFV director Oyvind Solberg Thorsen said in a statement.
“But if we want to cross the finish line with 100 percent electric cars, it will be necessary to maintain the incentives that make it profitable to choose an electric car over other other models,” he added.
Despite being a major oil and gas producer, Norway aims for all new cars sold to be “zero emission” starting in 2025, which is 10 years ahead of the goal set by the European Union, of which Norway is not a member.
In contrast to Brussels’ plans, Oslo has not banned the sale of cars with internal combustion engines, having instead opted for a system of generous tax breaks that have made them competitive against heavily taxed internal combustion cars.
They have also benefitted from toll exemptions, free parking in public car parks, and the use of public transport traffic lanes.
– Chargers everywhere –
While some tax breaks and incentives have been rolled back over the years, electric cars have become commonplace on Norwegian roads.
“It was a decision primarily motivated by climate and environment considerations,” Frode Hvattum, a 50-year-old father of three who owns two EVs, told AFP.
“Another reason was of course the benefits that come with them,” he said, describing himself as a “climate enthusiast”.
In his upscale neighbourhood of Baerum in suburban Oslo, the streets are full of Teslas, Audis and Volkswagens. Competitively priced Chinese brands are increasingly appearing too.
Many homes have a garage with an EV charger, in addition to Norway’s vast national network of superfast charging stations that keep the nation rolling.
That was a precondition for Frode Hvattum, who, like many Norwegians, travels frequently by car to his chalet in the mountains several hours from Oslo.
“It’s less complicated now that the network is so well-developed. You don’t have to plan your trip as much as before,” he said, adding that he uses the 15-20 minute charging breaks needed to make it up to the mountains to shop for food.
– Mission accomplished –
Even if EV sales fail to meet the 100 percent mark this year, experts say that Norway can be seen as having met its goal.
“We should finish the year at between 95 and 100 percent, and probably even in the high end of this range,” Christina Bu, head of the Norwegian Electric Vehicle Association, told AFP.
A new tax increase on internal combustion cars and rechargeable hybrids — which are cleaner but still run partially on petrol or diesel — on April 1 should help.
In January, diesel cars accounted for just 1.5 percent of new cars registered in Norway, and petrol cars just 0.4 percent, according to the OFV.
“Political leaders can’t rest on their laurels,” Bu warned.
“They have to maintain the advantages, such as the toll discounts, so the transition to EVs spreads on the second-hand market,” she stressed.
Hyundai at the top: New study reveals winter safety risks for popular EVs
By Dr. Tim Sandle
DIGITAL JOURNAL
February 2, 2025

South Korea's Hyundai is one of the world's biggest automakers
By Dr. Tim Sandle
DIGITAL JOURNAL
February 2, 2025

South Korea's Hyundai is one of the world's biggest automakers
- Copyright AFP/File Yasuyoshi CHIBA
A recent study by BAM Personal Injury Lawyers aimed to identify the most dangerous EV cars for winter by analyzing key metrics that impact performance, safety, and convenience in cold weather conditions. The findings relate to the UK.
The analysis revealed the most dangerous EV car for winter to be the Hyundai Ioniq, with the highest number of crashes. In addition, the Tesla Model S loses the most battery range in winter, significantly impacting its reliability in cold temperatures.
In cold weather, the Nissan Leaf’s limited battery capacity and range reduction make it less suited for winter driving. What else of interest has the study revealed?
To provide consumers with actionable insights into electric vehicle (EV) performance during winter, the study utilized crash data from the UK National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) over a three-year period, focusing exclusively on EV models.
The dataset was curated to ensure a targeted analysis of EV safety and performance. Metrics analyzed included total crashes, total sales until 2022, and crashes per 10,000 cars, which normalized crash data relative to vehicle sales. Additional metrics, such as winter range loss, battery capacity, efficiency in Wh/km, fast charge rate, weight, and safety ratings for frontal crashes, side crashes, and rollovers, provided a comprehensive view of EV performance and safety. The study also assessed adult occupant safety, child occupant safety, vulnerable road user safety, and the effectiveness of active safety systems.
The final ranking, determined by the crashes per 10k cars metric, identified the EV models most at risk during winter, highlighting critical information for consumer decision-making.
The above table indicates the Hyundai Ioniq recorded the highest number of crashes in relation to its ownership, with 32 crashes per 10,000 cars reported during a three-year period. This vehicle has several pros and cons already attached to it; the safety data adds a new dimension.
This vehicle also has the lowest battery capacity at 38 kWh, which limits its driving range in cold conditions. Along with losing 30 percent of its battery on the road in winter, the Ioniq struggles to provide the performance and reliability needed for winter driving.
The Kia Niro comes second, with 28 crashes over the same period. While it performs better than the Hyundai Ioniq in terms of battery capacity (65 kWh), it also loses 30 percent of its battery on the road in winter. Despite being a popular choice, with about 152K sales, these figures indicate that the Kia Niro may not be the safest option for winter driving.
The Hyundai Kona ranks third, with 26 crashes reported and the second-highest total number of crashes overall at 90. It stands out for its smaller winter range loss of -16% compared to others in the top rankings, along with a battery capacity of 65 kWh. However, it scored the lowest in safety system effectiveness, with just 60 percent.
The Tesla Model S is fourth, with a crash rate of 20. It loses the most range in winter, with a drastic -55 percent reduction, significantly undermining its reliability despite a large battery capacity of 95 kWh. Additionally, it is the heaviest vehicle in this analysis, weighing 2.2 kg, which could impact its handling on icy roads. Ranking fifth, the Tesla Model 3 has 15 crashes tied to its ownership base. Over the three years, the model has had the highest total crash count, reaching 124. This could be explained due to its huge sales volume of over 826,000 units.
Following in sixth, The Tesla Model Y has had a crash rate of 13 over the past three years. While it has the same winter range loss (-30 percent) and similar battery capacity (58 kWh) as the Kia Niro, its lower crash rate indicates better handling on icy roads. The Tesla Model X ranks seventh, with 12 crashes. Despite having an impressive 95 kWh battery, it loses one of the most battery percentages in winter, with a significant 52 percent reduction.
The Porsche Taycan takes eighth place, with 10 crashes recorded. With just 20K units sold, it has the lowest sales volume in this analysis. It also has the lowest safety system rating at 60% and lacks ratings for several other key safety metrics.
The Nissan Leaf ranks ninth, with 8 crashes. Its small battery capacity of 39 kWh and winter range loss of -38% make it poorly suited for cold-weather conditions. These limitations suggest that the Leaf is better equipped for short urban trips rather than extended winter journeys.
Finally, the Volkswagen ID.4 is the safest EV in this study, with just 7 crashes over the three years. Its 77 kWh battery provides decent capacity, and while it loses 30% of its battery on the road in winter, it still strikes a good balance between safety and reliability. That said, for drivers facing extreme cold, planning ahead for charging stops might still be necessary.
A recent study by BAM Personal Injury Lawyers aimed to identify the most dangerous EV cars for winter by analyzing key metrics that impact performance, safety, and convenience in cold weather conditions. The findings relate to the UK.
The analysis revealed the most dangerous EV car for winter to be the Hyundai Ioniq, with the highest number of crashes. In addition, the Tesla Model S loses the most battery range in winter, significantly impacting its reliability in cold temperatures.
In cold weather, the Nissan Leaf’s limited battery capacity and range reduction make it less suited for winter driving. What else of interest has the study revealed?
To provide consumers with actionable insights into electric vehicle (EV) performance during winter, the study utilized crash data from the UK National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) over a three-year period, focusing exclusively on EV models.
The dataset was curated to ensure a targeted analysis of EV safety and performance. Metrics analyzed included total crashes, total sales until 2022, and crashes per 10,000 cars, which normalized crash data relative to vehicle sales. Additional metrics, such as winter range loss, battery capacity, efficiency in Wh/km, fast charge rate, weight, and safety ratings for frontal crashes, side crashes, and rollovers, provided a comprehensive view of EV performance and safety. The study also assessed adult occupant safety, child occupant safety, vulnerable road user safety, and the effectiveness of active safety systems.
The final ranking, determined by the crashes per 10k cars metric, identified the EV models most at risk during winter, highlighting critical information for consumer decision-making.
The outcomes are:
Model | Crashes Per 10k Cars | Winter Range Loss (%) | Battery Capacity in kWh |
Hyundai Ioniq | 31.6 | -30% | 38.3 |
Kia Niro | 27.5 | -30% | 64.8 |
Hyundai Kona | 25.7 | -16% | 65.4 |
Tesla Model S | 19.5 | -55% | 95 |
Tesla Model 3 | 15.0 | -50% | 57.5 |
Tesla Model Y | 12.7 | -30% | 57.5 |
Tesla Model X | 12.4 | -52% | 95 |
Porsche Taycan | 9.7 | -20% | 82.3 |
Nissan Leaf | 8.4 | -38% | 39 |
Volkswagen ID.4 | 7.1 | -30% | 77 |
The above table indicates the Hyundai Ioniq recorded the highest number of crashes in relation to its ownership, with 32 crashes per 10,000 cars reported during a three-year period. This vehicle has several pros and cons already attached to it; the safety data adds a new dimension.
This vehicle also has the lowest battery capacity at 38 kWh, which limits its driving range in cold conditions. Along with losing 30 percent of its battery on the road in winter, the Ioniq struggles to provide the performance and reliability needed for winter driving.
The Kia Niro comes second, with 28 crashes over the same period. While it performs better than the Hyundai Ioniq in terms of battery capacity (65 kWh), it also loses 30 percent of its battery on the road in winter. Despite being a popular choice, with about 152K sales, these figures indicate that the Kia Niro may not be the safest option for winter driving.
The Hyundai Kona ranks third, with 26 crashes reported and the second-highest total number of crashes overall at 90. It stands out for its smaller winter range loss of -16% compared to others in the top rankings, along with a battery capacity of 65 kWh. However, it scored the lowest in safety system effectiveness, with just 60 percent.
The Tesla Model S is fourth, with a crash rate of 20. It loses the most range in winter, with a drastic -55 percent reduction, significantly undermining its reliability despite a large battery capacity of 95 kWh. Additionally, it is the heaviest vehicle in this analysis, weighing 2.2 kg, which could impact its handling on icy roads. Ranking fifth, the Tesla Model 3 has 15 crashes tied to its ownership base. Over the three years, the model has had the highest total crash count, reaching 124. This could be explained due to its huge sales volume of over 826,000 units.
Following in sixth, The Tesla Model Y has had a crash rate of 13 over the past three years. While it has the same winter range loss (-30 percent) and similar battery capacity (58 kWh) as the Kia Niro, its lower crash rate indicates better handling on icy roads. The Tesla Model X ranks seventh, with 12 crashes. Despite having an impressive 95 kWh battery, it loses one of the most battery percentages in winter, with a significant 52 percent reduction.
The Porsche Taycan takes eighth place, with 10 crashes recorded. With just 20K units sold, it has the lowest sales volume in this analysis. It also has the lowest safety system rating at 60% and lacks ratings for several other key safety metrics.
The Nissan Leaf ranks ninth, with 8 crashes. Its small battery capacity of 39 kWh and winter range loss of -38% make it poorly suited for cold-weather conditions. These limitations suggest that the Leaf is better equipped for short urban trips rather than extended winter journeys.
Finally, the Volkswagen ID.4 is the safest EV in this study, with just 7 crashes over the three years. Its 77 kWh battery provides decent capacity, and while it loses 30% of its battery on the road in winter, it still strikes a good balance between safety and reliability. That said, for drivers facing extreme cold, planning ahead for charging stops might still be necessary.
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