Range growth in a decade
Data from the Norwegian Electric Vehicle Association show that the average range of EVs sold in the first half of 2025 has climbed above 500 km. Ten years earlier, that average was under 200 km. The transformation reflects rapid improvements in battery energy density, drivetrain efficiency and the economics of large-scale production.
“A few years back the electric car was often a second vehicle in a household. Today it can cover virtually everyone’s daily needs,” said Christina Bu, secretary-general of the Norwegian Electric Vehicle Association.
Industry experts point to three major forces behind the leap: lower battery costs, more efficient electric powertrains and production scale that lets manufacturers fit larger-capacity packs without the price premiums of earlier years. The result is a broad model lineup that competes not only on price but on usable range.
The report also notes a methodological change in measurement standards — the move from older lab tests to the WLTP standard — which affected some year-to-year comparisons. Even accounting for that, the upward trend is unmistakable.
Beyond passenger cars
While passenger vehicles have already seen dramatic range gains, heavy transport and commercial fleets are still approaching their breakthrough moment. The EV Association expects similar technological leaps to trickle into trucks, buses and other large vehicles in the coming years — a necessary step if Norway is to reach its stated ambition of a fully electrified vehicle fleet by 2040.
For many Norwegian drivers, the era of “range anxiety” is now behind them. With typical new cars able to cover long distances on a single charge, long trips are increasingly routine rather than exceptional. That change is reshaping buying decisions: consumers are choosing larger battery options up front, rather than treating EVs as secondary, short-range vehicles.
