Three times as many new electric cars came onto Icelandic streets during the past summer, compared to the summer of 2016. According to the local newspaper Morgunblaðið 1,150 new electric cars were registered during May, June, July and August. This represents an increase of 200% over the 382 new electric cars which were registered during the same months in 2016.
The figures include both pure electric cars and hybrid cars which run both on traditional fossil fuels as well as electricity. Those watching the industry have described the increase as an explosion.
Powering cars with renewable energy
Despite the dramatic increase in the number of new electric cars, they still have a long way to go before electric cars take over. 20,000 new automobiles were registered in Iceland during the first 8 months of 2017. Out of those 580 were pure electric cars and 1,228 hybrids. Pure electric cars therefore made up 2.9% of the number of new vehicles. Electric and hybrids cars made up a combined 8.4% of the total number of new vehicles, up from 5.1% last year.
Read more: Iceland meets only 0.01% of it's electricity needs with fossil fuels, 99.99% from renewables
Environmentalists have identified the electrification of the vehicle fleet as the most effective step Iceland can take to tackle global climate change and curb greenhouse gas emissions. All electricity in Iceland is produced using renewables.
Icelandic authorities have taken several steps to speed up the adoption of electric cars. Public investment in rapid-charging stations around Iceland has made it easier to operate electric cars outside the major urban centers, while changes to building codes now require all garages at multi apartment buildings to have charging stations for electric cars.Tax incentives for consumers who purchase electric cars will also be made permanent the ministry of finance has announced.
Read more: Minister of Environment announces ambitious plan to make Icelandic cars electric by 2030
Earlier this summer the Minister of the Environment announced that Iceland should aim at having electric cars replace traditional gasoline or diesel powered vehicles by 2030.
Three times as many new electric cars came onto Icelandic streets during the past summer, compared to the summer of 2016. According to the local newspaper Morgunblaðið 1,150 new electric cars were registered during May, June, July and August. This represents an increase of 200% over the 382 new electric cars which were registered during the same months in 2016.
The figures include both pure electric cars and hybrid cars which run both on traditional fossil fuels as well as electricity. Those watching the industry have described the increase as an explosion.
Powering cars with renewable energy
Despite the dramatic increase in the number of new electric cars, they still have a long way to go before electric cars take over. 20,000 new automobiles were registered in Iceland during the first 8 months of 2017. Out of those 580 were pure electric cars and 1,228 hybrids. Pure electric cars therefore made up 2.9% of the number of new vehicles. Electric and hybrids cars made up a combined 8.4% of the total number of new vehicles, up from 5.1% last year.
Read more: Iceland meets only 0.01% of it's electricity needs with fossil fuels, 99.99% from renewables
Environmentalists have identified the electrification of the vehicle fleet as the most effective step Iceland can take to tackle global climate change and curb greenhouse gas emissions. All electricity in Iceland is produced using renewables.
Icelandic authorities have taken several steps to speed up the adoption of electric cars. Public investment in rapid-charging stations around Iceland has made it easier to operate electric cars outside the major urban centers, while changes to building codes now require all garages at multi apartment buildings to have charging stations for electric cars.Tax incentives for consumers who purchase electric cars will also be made permanent the ministry of finance has announced.
Read more: Minister of Environment announces ambitious plan to make Icelandic cars electric by 2030
Earlier this summer the Minister of the Environment announced that Iceland should aim at having electric cars replace traditional gasoline or diesel powered vehicles by 2030.
