Norway is a stunning bucket list destination, but quite an expensive country to visit. As Norway is also one of the most popular road trip destinations in Europe, you’ll find the price of a car rental to be very high. When looking for a rental car, an electric vehicle is often the more affordable option. But, should you really rent an electric vehicle in Norway?
After years of dreaming about a trip to Norway, we finally made it happen. Back in March, we flew into Tromso and road tripped to the Lofoten Islands. We were so excited to find cheap flights, as March is considered off-season travel for this part of Norway. As we were planning our trip, we soon discovered that the car rental was almost the same price as the round trip flight…only about $100 less. After our experience renting an EV (electric vehicle) in Mallorca, we were hesitant to rent another electric vehicle. However, we were also hesitant to pay the rental price of a standard fuel vehicle…so we went with the EV.
Read More: Renting an Electric Vehicle in Mallorca: Is It Worth It?
An electric vehicle always comes with some concerns, the most common being range anxiety. Our Norway road trip came with some additional concerns though.
- Would the below freezing temperatures drain the battery and reduce its range?
- With all of the driving a road trip entails, would we be spending hours each day at charging stations?
- Would there be chargers along our route to the Lofoten Islands and in Lofoten?
Rent an EV or Fuel Vehicle?
Norway encourages its residents and visitors to choose electric vehicles, as they are more eco-friendly than standard fuel vehicles. Electric vehicles promote sustainability, reducing air pollution through less carbon emissions while also reducing noise pollution with their quiet electric motors. But, is renting an electric car in Norway the best choice for your trip?
Absolutely. Let us tell you why.
Why You Should Rent an EV in Norway
Norway is the EV capital of the world. In fact, 97% of new cars sold in Norway are electric. Not only do they encourage residents to choose electric vehicles, they offer tax breaks and other incentives for EV drivers while also heavily taxing fuel. With the price of gas being close to $8.00 a gallon…electric vehicles are the best choice. Because Norway promotes the use of EVs, they have the infrastructure to support it too. There are chargers EVERYWHERE, and they’re fast. At the beginning of 2026, Norway was reported to have over 10,000 fast chargers. No more range anxiety and no sitting for hours while the battery charges.
Renting an Electric Vehicle in Norway
Charging Info
When we picked up our car from Hertz, we were handed the keys and that’s it. Thankfully, we had done our research before arriving. To charge your electric vehicle rental, you will need to download the Elton app. This easy to use app allows you to find fast charging stations, start and stop charging, and pay for charging. Elton now has a route planning feature that allows you to input your destination and starting point, so you can add charging station stops along the way.
The price per kilowatt-hour differs based on the speed and network operator but ranges from around $0.50-$0.80 per kWh. If you are staying at a hotel, chargers are usually available but often slow. If you’re staying at an Airbnb, ask your host about charging. Our host in Tromso offered to let us use her charger overnight for a fraction of the cost.
Most rental companies recommend charging to only 80-90% for the health of the battery. Charging slows down considerably past 80% and with a rental really isn’t necessary. For this reason, most rental companies only expect a charge of 80% when you return the car. During our time in Norway, we didn’t charge past 90% and only had to stop more than once on the long drive from Tromso to Lofoten and back.
If you were wondering what type of car to rent for your Norway road trip, we hope this post about renting an electric vehicle in Norway was helpful! We would choose an electric vehicle in Norway again and again as it is a more affordable and sustainable option and because of the availability of fast charging stations throughout the country. A full Norway travel guide is coming soon, but in the meantime, check out our other Europe travel guides here.
