2 OCTOBER 2026
Norway has come a long way in the transition to sustainable transport. Strong policy support, access to renewable electricity and an industry willing to invest have helped put the country at the forefront of electrification.
But how can Norway build on that progress and accelerate the transition from frontrunners to scale?
That was the central question when businesses, authorities, policymakers, experts and academia gathered in Oslo for Next Mile, a Sustainable Transport Forum hosted by Scania.
One message came through clearly: many of the solutions already exist. Now the system around them needs to move with them.
Norway has momentum. More transport operators are considering alternatives to diesel, and both electric and biogas heavy vehicles are becoming an increasingly visible part of the market.
Several operators at Next Mile shared experiences of electric trucks already working in daily operations. Their advice was pragmatic: start where it works. Put a few vehicles into predictable operations, learn and scale from there.
Next Mile Oslo brought together operators and key stakeholders from across the transport sector.
But moving from a few vehicles to a significant share of a fleet changes the equation. Vehicles, charging, energy, drivers, customers and regulations all need to work together – without compromising too much of the flexibility transport operators need.
This makes infrastructure a critical enabler. Before operators can invest at scale, they need confidence that reliable charging and sufficient grid capacity will be available where their operations require it.
For transport companies, sustainability and competitiveness need to go together. The full business case includes not only the vehicle, but energy, charging, utilisation and operational efficiency.
For smaller hauliers in particular, rapid technology development and infrastructure investments can represent substantial risk. That risk cannot sit with the operator alone.
Transport buyers can create demand and provide longer-term commitments. Manufacturers and finance providers can help share investment and residual-value risk, while public support can lower the threshold for investing in vehicles and infrastructure.
Ultimately, transport buyers also need to be willing to pay for more sustainable transport. As demand and volumes grow, the business case can become stronger.
The discussion with Fredrik Nilzén, Head of Sustainability at Scania, Vegar Narmo from Litra, Knut Ruud from Ruuds Transport and Anders Heen from Heen Transport, highlighted among other things the challenges smaller hauliers face in the transition to zero-emission transport.
Norway has strong access to renewable electricity. The challenge is getting sufficient capacity to the right place at the right time – and at a competitive and stable price.
Heavy transport will need a combination of solutions: depot charging, reliable fast charging along major routes and charging at customer sites or during loading, unloading and driver breaks.
Existing infrastructure can also be used more intelligently.
Battery storage, digital energy management, charging at times of lower demand and shared infrastructure can reduce costs and make better use of grid capacity.
At the same time, the existing fleet will not be replaced overnight. Biogas and other renewable fuels can reduce emissions today, particularly where electrification is not yet practical.
The message from Oslo was clear: do not wait for the perfect future energy system, or put electricity and renewable fuels in opposition. Use the solutions available today while building the infrastructure for tomorrow.
Before operators can invest at scale, they need confidence that reliable charging and sufficient grid capacity will be available where their operations require it. Pictured are Pär Landén, CEO at Scania Norway and Christian Levin, CEO at Scania Group.
Transport companies need confidence that the conditions around an investment will remain in place. That means predictable incentives, continued development of charging infrastructure and long-term regulatory conditions.
Regulations also need to keep pace with technology. Weight and dimension rules, for example, should not unintentionally put zero-emission vehicles at a competitive disadvantage.
Public procurement can also accelerate change. Oslo municipality showed how clear long-term requirements, incentives and dialogue with industry can create demand and stimulate innovation.
“We set clear targets, but introduced the requirements gradually so that suppliers had the opportunity to adapt,” says Audun Garberg, Head of the Climate Department, Agency for Climate, Oslo.
No single actor can deliver the transition alone.
Transport operators need customers willing to buy more sustainable transport, infrastructure they can rely on and conditions that allow them to invest. New partnerships and business models can also help distribute risk, particularly for smaller companies.
“It is the sum of what we manage to do together that will make a difference. If no one goes first, we will never reach the goal,” says Ingelin Noresjø, Norges Lastebileier-Forbund (NLF).
Ingelin Noresjø, Norges Lastebileier–Forbund (NLF)
The driver must not be forgotten either. Several operators described initial resistance to electric vehicles, followed by very positive experiences once drivers had tried them. Training, involvement and reliable charging can turn uncertainty into confidence.
Moderator Renate Nedregård and driver Vilde Hoel during their on-stage conversation about drivers positive experiences once they have tried electric vehicles.
Norway has demonstrated that the transition is possible. Technology is developing quickly, infrastructure is expanding and more operators are gaining real experience.
Now the challenge is to scale: stay ahead on charging infrastructure and grid capacity, make the economics work, maintain predictable conditions, create customer demand and share risk so smaller operators can participate.
The technology to make significant progress already exists for most industries and operations. What is needed now is the infrastructure and conditions that allow it to be deployed at scale.
The next mile is about creating the conditions for the whole transport system to move forward.
