Electric car charging in Norway: Empirical evidence from a multi-year survey

Norway represents a unique case in the global transition to electric mobility, combining exceptionally high electric vehicle (EV) penetration with a rapidly expanding charging infrastructure. This paper evaluates the development, use, and perceived performance of electric vehicle charging infrastructure in Norway, drawing on longitudinal data from the Norwegian Electric Vehicle Association (ELBIL) surveys conducted between 2016 and 2025. The analysis focuses on three interrelated topics: where EV users charge, how access to private parking and home charging influences charging behaviour and vehicle adoption, and how users evaluate public fast-charging infrastructure. Descriptive data shows that home charging remains the dominant charging mode, reflecting Norway's high prevalence of detached housing and reserved parking spaces. Nevertheless, public fast charging plays a complementary role even for users with home charging access, particularly for long-distance travel. Urban density and residential context—especially in Oslo—are shown to increase reliance on public charging. Using an ordered logit model, the paper investigates the socio-economic determinants of user satisfaction with fast charging. Results indicate that satisfaction is generally high but heterogeneous, with age, gender, place of residence, and vehicle brand (notably Tesla ownership) significantly influencing perceptions of system complexity, price transparency, payment methods, and infrastructure visibility. While queuing at fast chargers has not increased over time at the national level, users report persistent challenges related to market fragmentation and lack of standardisation. The Norwegian experience highlights the importance of coordinated infrastructure expansion, simple payment systems, and clear signage. The findings provide policy-relevant insights for countries with lower EV penetration, particularly those characterised by higher urban density and more limited access to private home charging.