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A ferry crossing on the surreal fjords along the Kystriksveien

The famed Kystriksveien, Norway’s coastal route from Steinkjer to Bodo

Is it possible to drive the Kystriksveien in an electric car?

Both Lonely Planet and National Geographic claim Norway’s western coastal route 17 from Steinkjer to Bodo as one of the best drives. We were on a fact-finder mission to see if route 17 could be undertaken with a standard electric vehicle such as a Nissan Leaf or BMW i3 model. The premise was that if it cannot be done in Norway with its advanced electric car charging network, such a route is unlikely to be available else where.

 

There has been a lot written about this coastal route. The direct route is 650kms long, criss-crossed by endless fjords. There are a minimum of 6 ferry crossings, some just 10-minutes long. The longest is an hour-long ferry crossing between Kilbogham and Jektvik that crosses the Arctic circle enroute. This is a drive through farming landscapes, beautiful pine forests, crossing fjords with distant low lying craggy peaks and ending in the drama of the northern plateaus. Crossing the Arctic circle, the Svartisen glacier flows down to the fjords  against a striking blue sky. This is a rugged landscape, framed by mountain peaks sheared by retreating glaciers and is the location of the Saltstraument, the world’s largest tidal current. There are also endless islands that provide added opportunity for exploration.

 

Steinkjer to Bronnoysund

 

Our starting point at Steinkjer has a couple of Fortum fast charging points. The drive from Steinkjer to Lund via Namsos is 127km on Fv17 & 769. Route from Steinkjer to Geisnes via Grong on E6, Fv760, 17 & 776 is 170km. This latter route gives the opportunity to make a detour along R760 to Grong to find a Fortum EV fast charger.

 

  1. Ferry Geisnes to Hofles – 10 mins

 

This is the current information on ferry times from Lund or Geisnes to Hofles.

 

Lund or Geisnes to Hofles ferry crossing
Lund or Geisnes to Hofles ferry times

 

Hofles to Holm

 

From the ferry, drive along Fv770 and Fv17, a distance of 88kms to Holm. A shorter route along Fv771 was blocked by a rock fall. There are no electric charge points and no access to the main highway the E6 along which there are regular fast charge points. Ferry information can be obtained from the Torghatten website which runs the ferries.

 

  1. Ferry Holm – Vennesund – 25 mins

 

The driving distance between Vennesund – Bronnoysund is just 50km, where there is a Gronnkontakt EV fast charger. The total distance from the last charge at Steinkjer is 307km. If we went via the fast charger at Grong, this would make it challenging but doable in electric car models with a range of 250kms. There is no room for error.

 

Skittish moose along the Kystriksveien
Skittish moose by the road side past Vennesund

 

 

Bronnoysund – Sandnessjoen

The Gronnkontakt fast charger at Bronnoysund allows exploration of the area with an electric vehicle. For example, we drove out to see the Torghatten, hole in the mountain. A short drive from Bronnoysund is Forvik.

 

  1. Ferry from Forvik to Tjotta – 1 hour

 

From Bronnoysund it is a total of 92kms to Sandnessjoen and the next fast charger supplied by Fortum.

 

Sandnessjoen to Bodo

Beyond Sandnessjoen there isn’t a single fast charger until you arrive in Bodo. Ferry information is available on these routes here. It is simply not feasible to undertake this section of the coastal road in an electric car. The driving distance between Sandnessjoen to Levang – 33.6kms

 

  1. Ferry Levang to Nesna – 25mins

 

Crossing into the Arctic Circle

 

Driving distance between Nesna to Kilbogham – 91kms

 

This ferry trip crosses the Arctic Circle about 20minutes out of Kilbogham. The longer journey time and larger boat allows passengers to leave their cars below and come on board. If one is short of time, this would be the best ferry fjord crossing and best driving route section to undertake. The ferry wends its way between island groups, many with snow capped hills.

 

  1. Ferry Kilbogham to Jektvik – 1 hour

 

Ferry information can be found here.

 

Kilbogham ferry terminal along the Kystriksveien
Kilbogham ferry terminal along the Kystriksveien

 

Driving distance between Jektvik and Agskardet – 28kms

 

Foroy to Bodo drive provides typical Norway scenery

The final ferry is another short one.

  1. Ferry Agskardet to Foroy – 10mins

 

Driving distance from Foroy to Bodo – 177kms

 

There were no options to charge cars at any of the ferry terminals. Throughout Norway and particularly in towns there are free options to charge on slower chargers. We did not see these on the route. The option to charge overnight is limited in hotels. Hoping others have experiences they can share.

 

Nangle angle

 

Unfortunately, it is not possible to drive the Kystriksveien, Norway’s coastal driving route with current models of the electric car.

 

Nangle facts & tips

 

It is not possible to book any of the ferries in advance. In addition, winter timetables come in during August coinciding with the return to schools.

 

The options are to book accommodation in advance that will allow overnight slow charging.

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