Norway Will Likely Ban Gas-Powered Cars, and Elon Musk is Stoked

Norway may have some sizable oil reserves of its own under its soil, but the Scandinavian country is seriously considering banning the sale of gasoline-powered cars at the end of the next decade.

According to Elektrek, an energy blog, Norway's political parties have been talking about this for a long time, but no news of an agreement had emerged until now. The terms spell out an end date of 2025, after which all cars sold would have to be electric.

This may sound like a big deal—and it is—but it's not quite the leap for Norway that is might be for another country. Electric cars already comprise 24% of vehicles on the streets of this affluent Scandinavian country -- the highest percentage in the world, according to Elektrek.

The blog also notes that Musk's celebration is a touch premature. While Norwegian newspapers have announced the agreement, the political parties official lines have demurred. Still, it looks like this will happen.

If it does, it will be a massive boon for Tesla, hence Musk's elation. Most car manufacturers will have a few electric offerings in the next decade but Tesla's head start in terms of public awareness, unbelievable performance, and trust—the cars will have been on the road longer than many competitors that started late—gives Musk a strong head start.

Not that it needs a head start. In the video embedded above, a Tesla beats an Italian supercar—while towing another Italian supercar.