Fewer Canadians Willing to Buy Electric Vehicles: Federal Research

A sign indicating an electric vehicle charging station parking bay in Albany, Western Australia, on April 19, 2024. (Susan Mortimer/The Epoch Times)

Fewer than four in 10 Canadians now say they would consider buying an electric vehicle, marking a decline in interest since 2022, according to in-house research conducted by the department of natural resources.

“Canadians hold mixed views on zero-emission vehicles and continue to have a general lack of knowledge about these vehicles,” the report said. When asked, “Have you considered purchasing or leasing a zero-emission vehicle?” only 36 percent of respondents said ‘yes.’

“Results reveal a fairly significant decrease in the proportion of Canadians who are considering purchasing a zero-emission vehicle,” according to the report, which was first obtained by Blacklock’s Reporter.

Fewer than 40 percent of respondents said they had considered purchasing a zero-emission vehicle, down from 51 percent in 2022.

The majority of respondents—75 percent—said electric vehicles were “too expensive.” Fifty-nine percent said they “perform poorly in cold weather” and 56 percent said they “cannot travel far enough on a full charge.”

A total of 50 percent of those surveyed also said they had little to no interest in taking a zero-emission vehicle for a test drive. When asked why, the most common reason cited was that they did not intend to buy one.

More than a fifth of Canadians surveyed, 22 percent, said they would “never buy a zero-emission vehicle” under any circumstances. Another 35 percent said, “I would only buy or lease a zero-emission vehicle if the price were about the same as an equivalent gas or diesel-powered vehicle.”

The report said the average Canadian driver budgeted $40,000 or less to buy a new car, owned one vehicle at a time, drove up to 200 kilometres a week, and questioned the hidden costs of electrics.

Half of respondents (48 percent) said they would be able to charge a zero-emission vehicle at their home, while 20 percent said they could charge one at their workplace.

“In addition, an increasing number of Canadians worry if too many people purchase zero-emission vehicles it will put too much pressure on the electricity grid (54 percent),“ the report said. ”Almost half, 48 percent, agree charging a zero-emission vehicle at home will significantly increase their monthly electricity bill.”

The natural resources department paid $76,320 for the March 25 report by Ekos Research Associates. Findings were drawn from questionnaires with 3,459 people nationwide.

Canada has brought in more than $46 billion in investments for 13 electric vehicle, battery, and battery component manufacturing projects since 2020, providing subsidies for factories in cities like St. Thomas, Ont. and Windsor, Ont.

A federal mandate has been put in place to phase out new sales of gasoline or diesel-powered vehicles in Canada by 2035.