Sweden's Electric Vehicle Development Declines Compared to Nordic Neighbors
Sweden lags behind its Nordic neighbors in electric vehicle adoption and infrastructure, highlighting urgent issues.
Key Points
- • In the first half of 2025, EVs constituted only 34% of new car registrations in Sweden.
- • Sweden has more than 10 electric cars per public charging station, beyond EU recommendations.
- • Only 20% of charging points in Sweden are fast chargers, complicating consumer adoption.
- • The absence of electric vehicle purchase incentives in Sweden contrasts sharply with neighboring countries.
A recent report by the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) underscores Sweden's declining progress in electric vehicle (EV) adoption, highlighting stark contrasts with its Nordic counterparts. By the first half of 2025, only 34% of new car registrations in Sweden consisted of EVs, marking a notable drop from Sweden's previously strong position within Europe.
Several factors contribute to this decline, notably the country's insufficient public charging infrastructure. Currently, Sweden faces an overwhelming ratio of over 10 electric vehicles per public charger, exceeding the European Union's recommended limits. Furthermore, only 20% of the existing charging stations are fast chargers, thus deterring potential EV buyers with lengthy charging times.
The limited market options for lower-priced EV models also pose a significant barrier; while Europe offers 19 EV models below €30,000, Sweden has only a handful. Additionally, unlike other European nations such as France and Germany that provide purchase incentives for electric vehicles, Sweden lacks such a bonus, impacting consumer decisions.
The report also highlights weaknesses in the second-hand EV market, where only about 10% of used cars sold in Sweden are electric, compared to nearly 50% in Denmark. Despite Sweden's strong electricity grid and the removal of double taxation on electricity, the pace of renewable energy expansion lags behind that of neighboring countries. As nations push toward zero emissions from new cars by 2035, the ACEA report emphasizes urgent actions needed in Sweden to enhance infrastructure, incentivize purchases, and diversify vehicle offerings to avoid falling further behind its Nordic neighbors.