Mission: Go green or go home (not literally) is a go in Norway in 2023. By next year, travelers and residents of Oslo, Norway, can look forward to traveling fossil-fuel-free on the city’s first fully electric transportation system.
In response to climate change and to reduce air pollution, Oslo announced in October that the remaining diesel-fueled buses would be replaced with 450 electric ones, adding to the network of electrified trains, trams, and ferries, as well as over 200 currently operating electric buses.
Oslo will invest 500 million kroner ($51.3 million) to purchase the buses, which will save the city money in the long run. This move will complete Oslo’s all-electric public transit system – the world’s first and speaks to a larger green travel trend happening across the globe.
There is no expectation that ridership will increase in the long run as a result of the switch to full electric transportation, but it does make Oslo a more desirable destination for tourists and locals alike, who might opt for electrified taxis, airport shuttle buses, and rental cars; all of which currently outnumber gas cars.
Having the highest share of electric vehicles per capita in the world, Norway has led a green transportation revolution national-wide. Oslo is not stopping there, aiming to become the first nearly emission-free city in the world by 2030, along with improved walking and biking routes and more energy-efficient buildings.