Federal Polling Finds Canadians Remain Uncertain About EVs’ Reliability, Affordability

Many Canadians are unlikely to purchase electric vehicles (EVs) and continue to have concerns about how affordable and reliable they are, according to a federal pollster.

“As in previous years, uncertainty persists around issues such as charging capacity, maintenance costs, and resale value,” pollsters wrote in a report, adding that increased EV education and awareness initiatives are needed.

The report, which was created from polling with 3,035 people across Canada, found that 33 percent were somewhat or very likely to purchase an EV as their next vehicle, while 42 percent said they were unlikely to or would not do so.

According to Blacklock’s Reporter, the report said Canadians have “mixed views” on EVs, with continued uncertainty about the availability of charging stations, the battery life of the vehicles, their performance in colder weather, and their resale value. The report said the majority of Canadians continue to believe that EVs are better for the environment than combustion-engine vehicles.

A total of 58 percent said they believe the vehicles “perform poorly in cold weather” and “can’t travel far enough on a full charge.” Additionally, 57 percent said there were “too few charging stations where I drive.”

“While some Canadians believe EVs can offer long-term savings, a significant proportion indicate they would only consider purchasing one if prices were comparable to conventional vehicles, and many say they would only do so as a secondary household vehicle,” the report said.

The report also said that just 35 percent of Canadians polled supported the Liberal government’s prior EV mandate, while 49 percent were opposed to it.

The Liberal government announced an EV mandate in 2023 that required car manufacturers and importers to have at least 20 percent of their sales of new vehicles be EVs starting in 2026, with the target of 100 percent by 2035. Automakers that failed to meet the 2026 target could purchase compliance credits from competitors and limit sales of internal combustion vehicles.

But in September 2025, amid declining EV sales and a lack of support for the mandate, the federal government announced it was pausing the 2026 EV sales targets, and launched a 60-day review of the program.

Then on Feb. 5, 2026, Ottawa announced it would repeal the EV mandate entirely, instead implementing tougher greenhouse gas emissions standards for model years 2027 to 2032. The revised aim is to reach an EV adoption rate of 75 percent by 2035 and 90 percent by 2040.

That announcement also came after the United States imposed 25 percent tariffs on Canadian vehicles and automotive parts, and U.S. President Donald Trump signed resolutions blocking an EV mandate from taking effect in California and 17 other states.