Oslo, the world’s most electric car–dense capital, is set to overhaul how drivers pay for public AC charging, shifting from a predominantly time-based system to one centred on energy consumption while retaining a time-linked parking fee to keep charging points available.
The city council this week approved the change, which is expected to take effect in autumn 2026, according to Norway’s electric vehicle association. The move follows years of criticism from EV drivers who argued that paying by the minute unfairly penalised vehicles that charge more slowly.
See also: Oslo Raises Toll Charges for Diesel Trucks to Spur Shift to Zero-Emission Vehicles
Norway has the highest electric vehicle penetration globally, with battery-electric cars accounting for 96% of new registrations in 2025. In Oslo, adoption is even higher, and electric cars now outnumber diesel vehicles in the overall fleet. As a result, many residents without private chargers rely heavily on public infrastructure.
Under the new model, the main pricing component will be based on electricity consumption in kilowatt-hours, reflecting the spot price the city pays for power, updated daily. An operational surcharge per kilowatt-hour will be added, alongside a time-based parking fee that varies by location and duration of charging.
“At last! We’ve been waiting for this for a long time,” said Per Maltun of the Electric Car Association of Oslo and Akershus. “The old model didn’t account for how much electricity the charging station actually delivered, putting slower-charging EVs at a disadvantage. With the new model, EV drivers pay based on the actual amount of energy delivered to their battery.”
See also: Norway’s Ruter Partners with Volkswagen’s Moia to Deploy Autonomous ID. Buzz Shuttles in Oslo
The time-based element is designed as an anti-idling measure rather than a primary billing method. In the city centre, drivers will pay 12 Norwegian kroner per hour for the first five hours and double that thereafter during daytime hours, with slightly lower rates outside central areas. Parking fees will be waived overnight and on Sundays.
City officials said the balance is necessary in a market where charger availability is under constant pressure. With EV ownership so widespread, ensuring that vehicles move on promptly after charging remains a priority.
“It’s about fairness, but also about turnover,” said Sara Teige Kalsås, mobility adviser at Oslo’s Agency for Urban Environment, in comments relayed by the electric car association. She said the rollout would likely take around three months, with the biggest effort involving new signage and limited technical adjustments.
See also: Port of Oslo to Introduce Full Fee Exemptions for Zero-Emission Ships Starting 2026
One unresolved issue is how the new fees will apply to residents with parking permits, who already pay a flat rate for on-street parking. The city has said it aims to exempt such residents from the additional parking fee when charging in their own neighbourhoods, but acknowledged that a technical solution is not yet in place.
Oslo’s revised pricing model highlights the challenges facing cities with mature EV markets: moving beyond early incentives and simple pricing schemes toward systems that balance fairness, grid costs and efficient use of scarce urban charging space.
