Electric-Car Perks Put Norway in a Pinch

[cpzilliacus]

Wall Street Journal: Electric-Car Perks Put Norway in a Pinch - Rich subsidies for Nissan and Tesla vehicles are straining the finances of a Norwegian tunnel

FINNØY, Norway–When Arne Nordbø drove his electric car under the toll gantry and into the mouth of a tunnel leading to this small Norwegian island on a recent Monday, he couldn't repress a chuckle.

"They've just lost another $20,"  said the Finnøy resident and occasional stand-up comedian.

On the losing side of Mr. Nordbø's commute are local municipalities, including Finnøy, which went into debt to dig the $70 million tunnel but charge no fee on electric cars because of national policies aimed at curbing carbon emissions.

The incentive helped convince many islanders to shift to electric cars. The vehicles now account for about a quarter of tunnel traffic, and allow owners to dodge one of the heaviest toll burdens in the country.

[mgk920]

Wall Street Journal: Electric-Car Perks Put Norway in a Pinch - Rich subsidies for Nissan and Tesla vehicles are straining the finances of a Norwegian tunnel

FINNØY, Norway–When Arne Nordbø drove his electric car under the toll gantry and into the mouth of a tunnel leading to this small Norwegian island on a recent Monday, he couldn't repress a chuckle.

"They've just lost another $20,"  said the Finnøy resident and occasional stand-up comedian.

On the losing side of Mr. Nordbø's commute are local municipalities, including Finnøy, which went into debt to dig the $70 million tunnel but charge no fee on electric cars because of national policies aimed at curbing carbon emissions.

The incentive helped convince many islanders to shift to electric cars. The vehicles now account for about a quarter of tunnel traffic, and allow owners to dodge one of the heaviest toll burdens in the country.

Where do they get the energy to recharge these vehicles and how much 'carbon' do those sources emit?



Mike

[noelbotevera]

Not sure if this should be in Off-Topic.

OT, ouch. The problem with tech advancing too fast is that it doesn't give people a chance to have competition. It should at least be fair.

[jakeroot]

Where do they get the energy to recharge these vehicles and how much 'carbon' do those sources emit?

According to Google, 99% of energy production in Norway is hydroelectric. So not very much.

On the tunnel itself, they need to find an alternative funding method. You can't whack the residents for buying electric. Keep the toll but maybe increase a tax somewhere, just temporarily? I'm no politician...I don't know how this shit works.

[AlexandriaVA]

Seems to be a similar conundrum to the effect of more fuel-efficient cars or hybrid/electric cars not paying as much gas tax per mile driven than an older clunker.

[vdeane]

What if they discounted to toll for electric cars instead of having no toll?  That would not be contrary to encouraging electric cars, but they wouldn't be getting a free ride, either.

[Brandon]

What if they discounted to toll for electric cars instead of having no toll?  That would not be contrary to encouraging electric cars, but they wouldn't be getting a free ride, either.

They're cars, they're on the road, they use the tunnel, and they cause the same amount of damage to the road.  IMHO, the toll should be the same.

[jakeroot]

What if they discounted to toll for electric cars instead of having no toll?  That would not be contrary to encouraging electric cars, but they wouldn't be getting a free ride, either.

They're cars, they're on the road, they use the tunnel, and they cause the same amount of damage to the road.  IMHO, the toll should be the same.

It's called an incentive. The government wants people to buy electric. Charging the same as a petrol/diesel vehicle would defeat the whole point.

[SteveG1988]

What if they discounted to toll for electric cars instead of having no toll?  That would not be contrary to encouraging electric cars, but they wouldn't be getting a free ride, either.

They're cars, they're on the road, they use the tunnel, and they cause the same amount of damage to the road.  IMHO, the toll should be the same.

It's called an incentive. The government wants people to buy electric. Charging the same as a petrol/diesel vehicle would defeat the whole point.

They cause less wear and tear on the tunnel, no emissions means less work for the fans, less cleaning of the walls, etc.

[Brandon]

What if they discounted to toll for electric cars instead of having no toll?  That would not be contrary to encouraging electric cars, but they wouldn't be getting a free ride, either.

They're cars, they're on the road, they use the tunnel, and they cause the same amount of damage to the road.  IMHO, the toll should be the same.

It's called an incentive. The government wants people to buy electric. Charging the same as a petrol/diesel vehicle would defeat the whole point.

Then the tax structure should be set up to do so.  As for tolls, sorry, but they take up the same space.

[SteveG1988]

What if they discounted to toll for electric cars instead of having no toll?  That would not be contrary to encouraging electric cars, but they wouldn't be getting a free ride, either.

They're cars, they're on the road, they use the tunnel, and they cause the same amount of damage to the road.  IMHO, the toll should be the same.

It's called an incentive. The government wants people to buy electric. Charging the same as a petrol/diesel vehicle would defeat the whole point.

Then the tax structure should be set up to do so.  As for tolls, sorry, but they take up the same space.

This does raise a question. How is the road funding structure in other countries set up, is there a similar rule of tax funded roads being toll free, or can it be split?