Electric car rental: an eco-friendly road trip through Norway
Why electric cars in Norway are convenient and cost-effective
● Infrastructure. Over 25,000 public charging points, half of which are fast DC ≥ 50 kW.
● Benefits. Electric cars pay a maximum of 70% of regular road tolls and receive discounts on municipal parking.
● Fuel savings. A litre of petrol costs approximately NOK 22, while a 50 kWh charge costs approximately NOK 80–100 at a rate of NOK 1.6–2.0/kWh.
● Environment. Electricity is almost 100% green — hydro and wind.
🚗 Where to Rent an EV and How Much It Costs
| Company | Popular models | Price in the 2025 season* | Airport pickup | Young driver fee** |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SIXT | VW ID.3, ID.4, Tesla Model Y | 790–1,190 NOK/day | OSL, BGO, SVG | 19–24 years old — 120 NOK/day |
| Hertz | Polestar 2, BMW iX1 | 850–1,250 NOK/day | All major | 100 NOK/day |
| Avis | Nissan Leaf 62 kWh | 690–950 NOK/day | Selectively | 95 NOK/day |
| Arctic Rent (North) | Tesla Model 3 LR AWD | 990–1,350 NOK/day | TRO, BOO | 0 (from 21 years old) |
* Prepaid price, without full insurance. July–August: add +10% to base rates.
** Youth surcharge applies if the main driver is under 25 years old.
Booking tips
- Book 8–10 weeks in advance: save up to 30%.
- Check the type of charging cable (Type 2 or CCS) — sometimes only a "combo cable" is provided.
- Check the free mileage limit: large companies already offer "unlimited" mileage, while local companies offer 150–200 km/day + 4 NOK/km on top.
⚡ 3.1 Charging Types for EVs in Norway
| Symbol | Power | Where found | Average price |
|---|---|---|---|
| AC Type 2 | 3.7–22 kW | Car parks, hotels, campsites | 1.5 NOK/kWh or free |
| DC Fast | 50–150 kW | Circle K, Mer, Recharge | 4.5–6.0 NOK/kWh |
| HPC (Ionity, Tesla V4) | ≤ 400 kW | Motorways E6, E18, E39 | 6.5–7.5 NOK/kWh |
⏱️ Charging from 10% to 80% at HPC: takes 18–30 minutes depending on battery size.
📲 3.2 Mandatory EV Apps & Toll Benefits
🛠️ Key Apps for EV Drivers
| Function | App | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Routing + payment | Elton | All-in-one: charging card + winter range calc |
| Map of all chargers | PlugShare | Filter: café, lounge, toilet |
| Mer/Statkraft charging | Mer Connect | Pay with NFC even without a reader |
| Tesla chargers | Tesla | Pay-per-kWh for all cars, not just Tesla |
| Battery & range | ABRP | Live SoC via OBD/API |
📝 Tip: Register in 3–5 minutes. Add a Revolut/Wise card to avoid foreign bank fees.
🚧 Toll & Parking Discounts — What Works in 2025
| Category | Before (pre-2023) | Now (2025) | How to get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tolls (AutoPASS) | Free | ≤ 70% of DVS rate | Register plate with AutoPASS / Visitor Payment |
| Municipal parking | Free | −50% (Oslo), free 23:00–06:00 | Enable EV zone in EasyPark |
| Car ferries | −50% | −50% nationwide, 100% in North | AutoPASS for Ferry scans your plate |
| Bus lanes (HOV) | Free ride | Allowed if ≥ 1 passenger | Follow "2+" camera rule |
⚠️ Fine for misusing EV-only parking spaces: 900 NOK (since 2024).
Planning your route: three tried-and-tested "green" trips
1 "Fjord Classic" — 7 days, 1,250 km
Oslo → Flåm → Bergen → Ørnevegen → Geiranger → Atlantic Road → Trondheim.
● The longest stretch is 237 km (Bergen → Sognefjellet HPC).
● Total charging cost — ≈ 830 NOK, tolls — 390 NOK.
2 "Polar Express" — 5 days, 1,400 km
Tromsø → Breivikeidet ferry → Senja → Lofoten → Bodø.
● After Svolvær — 550 km Tesla/Mer HPC network every 110–140 km.
● Benefits: EV free on combined ferry Fiskebøl → Melbu.
3 "Norway from sea to snow" — 10 days, 2,050 km
Stavanger → Lysefjord → Hardangervidda → Sognefjord → Jotunheimen → Oslo.
● Rv7 and Rv51 passes: keep a 60 km reserve, there are few powerful HPCs there.
● Best campsite with 22 kW AC — Odda Camping (free for guests).
❄️ Winter and Electric Cars: How Not to "Freeze"
| Problem | Solution |
|---|---|
| Range loss of 25% at −10°C | Pre-condition the interior from the mains, keep charge between 20–80% |
| Slow charging | Use "Battery pre-heat" 20 minutes before HPC charging |
| Icing of ports | Apply silicone spray + use a fabric cap on the CCS port |
| Regeneration reduced | Switch to "B-mode" in the mountains, watch for frozen brakes |
🧊 Winter tariff for Mer & Recharge: 5.0 NOK/kWh. It’s cheaper to warm up the car while charging. No minute surcharge applies.
🧾 Budget Example: 1-Week EV Road Trip (2 People)
| Item | Amount (NOK) | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| VW ID.4 rental | 8,000 | Prepaid, 7 days |
| Charging (1,200 km) | 90 | Mix of AC and HPC stations |
| Tolls and ferries | 650 | EV discounts included |
| Parking | 26 | Oslo, Bergen (50% discount) |
| Young driver surcharge | 0 | Driver is 29 years old |
Total: 9,810 NOK ≈ €925 for two people, excluding fuel costs.
🚗 For comparison: diesel crossover = 7,500 NOK rental + 2,300 NOK fuel + 1,300 NOK t
Pre-departure checklist
● Booked an EV, provided your AutoPASS/Ferry number.
● I downloaded Elton, ABRP, PlugShare and added a map.
● I got a Type 2 cable (many AC stations don't have a "wire").
● I checked whether the Schuko → Type 2 adapter fits (useful for camping).
● I plan to keep a reserve of ≥ 60 km before mountain roads.
● Registered EasyPark Zone "EV" for parking discounts.
● I checked that I have a heated extension cable (winter).
Renting an electric car is a total game changer in the land of fjords! You'll be amazed at the lower fuel and toll costs, and you can even charge your coffee and Wi-Fi while the battery is running on clean hydro power. The Norwegian charging network is truly impressive, covering both the southern highways and the Arctic tundra. Apps like Elton make logistics a breeze, making it easier than finding a parking space. Plan your route, keep a reserve for mountain passes, and enjoy almost silent kilometres along waterfalls and glaciers. Wow! What an incredible turn! Here's to endless kilowatts of awesome!