EVs are costly, unreliable non-starters: survey

Half of Canadians will not even consider an EV

Electric vehicles are still too costly and unreliable in winter, Canadian drivers say.

On July 31, Blacklock’s Reporter posted coverage of in-house research by the Department of Natural Resources which notes that fewer Canadians say they’d buy an electric car despite billions in federal aid for the industry.

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

“Results reveal a fairly significant decrease in the proportion of Canadians who are considering purchasing a zero emission vehicle,” said the report Canadians’ Awareness, Knowledge And Attitudes Related To Zero Emission Vehicles. “Indeed fewer than four in ten indicated they had considered purchasing a zero emission vehicle, down from 51 percent in 2022.”

A majority of respondents complained electrics were “too expensive” (cited by 75 percent), “perform poorly in cold weather” (59 percent) and “cannot travel far enough on a full charge” (56 percent). Findings were drawn from questionnaires with 3,459 people nationwide, Blacklock’s notes.

Fifty percent of Canadians surveyed said they had little or no interest in taking a zero emission vehicle for a test drive. “Asked why they felt this way, the most common reason cited was they had no intention of buying a zero emission vehicle,” wrote researchers.

More than a fifth of Canadians surveyed, 22 percent, said they would “never buy a zero emission vehicle” under any circumstances. Thirty-five 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.”

Cabinet to date has pledged $151.5 billion in aid for the electric vehicle sector. A federal mandate would prohibit new sales of gasoline or diesel powered passenger vehicles by 2035.

“Fewer than half agree they can charge a zero emission vehicle at their home (48 percent) and even fewer agree they can charge one at their workplace (20 percent),” said the report. “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). Almost half, 48 percent, agree charging a zero emission vehicle at home will significantly increase their monthly electricity bill.”

Trump: "I will end the electric vehicle mandate on day one, thereby saving the auto industry from complete obliteration; and savings US customers thousands and thousands of dollars per car. pic.twitter.com/mi7e8COzbt

— unusual_whales (@unusual_whales) July 19, 2024