Why do they love electric cars in the Arctic Circle?

Yet this remote, beautiful, snowy city is the unlikely focus of the global electric car industry, attracting the attention of Silicon Valley entrepreneurs such as Elon Musk, founder of electric car maker Tesla.

His company has recently opened a showroom there – its most northerly outpost.

Why? Because Norway, it seems, is simply nuts about electric cars.

But it is economic incentive as much as environmental concern that is fuelling the rise in green cars – Norway introduced a raft of generous subsidies to encourage people to go electric.

• No purchase taxes
• Exemption from 25% VAT on purchase
• Low annual road tax
• No charges on toll roads or ferries
• Free municipal parking
• Access to bus lanes
• 50% reduction in company car tax
• No VAT on leasing

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