Survey on EV: the majority of Canadians are unaware of subsidies
Electric Mobility Canada recently surveyed over 6,000 Canadians to find out about their perceptions of electric vehicles (EVs), their driving habits and their knowledge of EVs. We won't go into all the details, but here are a few key points that emerged.
To begin with, EV owners are more inclined to use their vehicles and drive longer distances. 38% of EV owners drive between 10,000 and 20,000 km per year, while this proportion drops to 27% among non-owners. By way of illustration, 54% of Canadians drive 10,000 km or less per year.
When it comes to public charging infrastructure, the majority (73%) of EV and plug-in hybrid owners trust it. Only 6% are apprehensive about the network.
The impact of subsidies
When it comes to buying a vehicle, government subsidies have influenced many consumers: 64% of EV and plug-in hybrid owners stressed their importance. With the phasing-out of rebates in Quebec from January 1, 2025, it remains to be seen whether the enthusiasm for EVs will remain as strong.
Paradoxically, most Canadians know nothing about subsidies. Quebec does well, unlike most of Canada's provinces and territories. Only Prince Edward Island and the Yukon do better. Among Quebecers surveyed, 48% said they were unaware of the existence of rebates (51% in 2023).
For the self-employed or people who own a business, only 27% were aware that there is a federal tax deduction for the purchase of an EV.
Education to be perfected
In light of this information, the Electric Mobility Canada survey makes an interesting observation. At the start of the survey, 44% of respondents were planning to buy an EV as their next vehicle. By comparison, the figure was 35% for those looking to buy a gasoline or diesel vehicle.
Respondents were then invited to review their considerations after consulting the documents provided throughout the study. Result: 62% of those surveyed - an increase of 40% - would consider purchasing an EV. With this in mind, the survey concludes that it is important to educate the public about the advantages and disadvantages of EVs.
You can consult the entire study by clicking on this hyperlink.
