Plan a vacation in Norway?
Welcome to Norway – the land of the midnight sun, fjords and mountains – and electric cars.
There are at the moment (as of 11. August 2020) more than 312.000 electric cars in Norway, and the number is increasing every month. You can find the updated number of EVs here: https://elbilstatistikk.no. That makes a higher and higher demand for enough infrastructure for all-electric cars.
The main purpose of this article is to give you as a tourist in Norway some helpful pointers to a trouble-free vacation with an electric car, hopefully without range anxiety.
You can read an inspirational Norwegian summer travel story from an English Tesla owner here: TOGUK-Norwegian-Fjord-Road-Trip-2019.
Preperations
- Install the “ladenå“-app or similar on your mobile phone
- Order Autopass (electronic toll unit)
- Get hold of a Type 2 charge-cable if you have none from before
- UMC cable – talk to Tesla in Norway if it can be possible to rent one or buy one
- Bring your CHAdeMO adapter
- Get hold of an RFID-card for commercial charging stations
The ladenå-app
http://www.apphuset.com/apps/ladenaa/
When traveling in Norway, this application for your mobile phone can be smart. The database behind is updated and maintained by the Norwegian EV association regularly, and all charge points, from municipal chargers outside town halls or schools to more commercial chargers are listed here. All the TOCN-sponsored chargers are listed here as well.
Autopass
When driving an electric car in Norway, all public toll roads are free, as long as you have signed up for an “AutoPASS” agreement and received an electronic tag, or have registered your existing one with Autopass.
The tag can be ordered by any of the companies listed in the following link and sent you in the mail http://www.autopass.no/en/order-tag .
Make sure to apply for a “fritaksavtale” to get free or reduced price on toll roads. Update by January 1.st “2020: Not all toll roads are free any more, but the price for an electric car will still be lower than for a fossil car, max 50% of normal price.
Sometimes the front window does not allow the signal from the tag to come through properly. In that case – put it in the back window, or put it in the nose cone as shown in the following video:
Type-2 cable
It can be very useful to have a type-2 cable.
You can get one at Tesla, but they can be obtained from several places if you do not have one from before.
Some charging-stations have a cable connected, but there are quite a few without as well.
Tesla owners Club Norway have sponsored an number of 22kW chargers at various shopping malls and hotels around the country. You can check them out here:
https://www.tocn.no/2015/09/hvor-finner-man-ladefondsladere/
Tesla chargers
Many hotels have Type-2 destination chargers from Tesla (check in Tesla map by following QR-link)
CHAdeMO adapter
Remember your CHAdeMO adapter if you have one.
It is also possible to borrow a CHAdeMO adapter on various locations around the country:
https://www.tocn.no/chademo-adapters/
Rapid chargers
We have two main companies (and several smaller) in Norway where you can rapid charge your car, in addition to the Tesla supercharger network. You will sometimes find yourself in situations where you would like to take another route, or do not have time to charge before rushing off to catch a ferry. Prices vary on type of charging. You need to create a user, register a card to the account, and download the correct app on your telephone.
| Company | URL to registration /Information | Details |
| Fortum Charge and Drive | https://www.fortum.no/privat/lade-elbil/lade-pa-ladestasjoner/ladeappen/hvordan-bruke-charge-drive-appen Scroll down on page for English instructions | Have Type-2, CCS and CHAdeMO on most locations, some places only Type-2. Cover all of Norway. Their map of chargers can be seen in the mobile app |
| Mer | https://minside.mer.eco/bestill (no English page here) | Cover all of Norway Their map of chargers, – can also be seen in their mobile app |
Other useful Information
Charging using a normal Tesla charge cable (UMC)
The safest way to make sure you can charge using a plug at the hotel is to borrow or buy a Norwegian UMC from Tesla in Norway.
Ferries in Norway
On ferries, you normally pay for passengers and the car(includes driver), but with an electric car, you normally only pay for the driver and passengers. There are a few exceptions: On the Flakk-Rørvik ferry, you only pay for the car, as passengers are free.
There is a toll-road part of some ferry tickets. You should not need to pay for this.
Parking
Parking in the street or on public parking spots is normally free for electric vehicles. All parking with P-signs that are blue with white P, are normally owned by the municipality.
If in doubt, check the sign on the machine. If you find a coat of arms and the word “kommune”, you should be able to park for free as long as you follow a few rules:
Check if there is a time limit on how long you can park. if so, write a note and put it in the window saying “parkert klokken hh:mm “+ the date (put in the time you parked). Remember to be back in time.
You can use a parking clock as well (examples are shown below.
Some municipalities will charge you anyway, and an electric car will normally pay in all parking garages. Check this list to make sure: http://elbil.no/her-far-du-parkeringsoversikten/
If you need help
Remember to enjoy yourself – and if you find yourself in trouble when it comes to charging, there might be a Tesla-owner living close, or you can get some expert help through our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/TeslaOwnersClubNorway/, our page https://www.facebook.com/TeslaOwnersClubNorway or through the discussion forum on http://elbilforum.no/forum/index.php/board,59.0.html.
Where to rent a Tesla
Some rental companies where you can rent a Tesla in Norway
Avis: https://www.avis.co.uk/drive-avis/fleet/prestige/norway
Sixt: https://www.sixt.com/php/fleet/vehicle_group_list_dynamic
Where to go
There are so many nice places to go to in Norway. Some strive for the very north like North Cape (Nordkapp) and the midnight sun, some for fjords and others for mountain exploration. Tromsø is in the winter time THE place to see Northern Lights.
For fjords: check for inspiration here: https://www.tocn.no/2016/06/landstreff-flam/.
For more information about where to go and what to see in Norway – check Visit Norway.
A film from June 2016 in Flåm
