Is Bergen a green city? What visitors should know
Electric cars, light rail and tolls: understanding Bergen’s transport without confusing targets with results.
Looking at the traffic, you might wonder where all the combustion-engine cars have gone. Bergen’s changing fleet is noticeable, but figures tell a more useful story than impressions alone. A greener city is also about making fewer journeys that require a private car.
SSB recorded 60,695 electric passenger cars in Bergen in 2025: approximately 49.7% of its 122,239 passenger cars, calculated by this guide. This measures registered vehicles, not traffic on the streets.
Across Norway, electric cars made up 32.2% of the passenger-car fleet in 2025. This gives Bergen some context, but registration by owner can distort geographical comparisons, particularly for leased vehicles. It does not establish a ranking of pioneering cities.
Bergen’s 2022–2030 climate strategy sets a target of cutting direct emissions by 85% by 2030 compared with 2009. This is a target, not an already achieved reduction or a certification that the city has no emissions.
Drivers should check the tolls. Ferde retains separate petrol/hybrid, diesel and electric categories, with different charges and conditions depending on time and agreements. Electrification does not mean free tolls; consult the official tariff table before travelling.
For arrivals by air, Bybanen line 1 connects the airport and city centre. Skyss provides a journey planner to check connections and times. Compare the full route to your accommodation before deciding whether you need a rental car.
Municipal mobility hubs bring together options such as car sharing, charging and bicycles; facilities vary between locations. Our suggestion is to group nearby visits, plan your transfers and keep the car for journeys where it genuinely helps.
Driving an electric car? Use our charging guide, then confirm the chosen station’s connector, power, payment and parking arrangements. For a day in the centre, try planning a route on foot and public transport first, allowing for your mobility needs and available time.