Canadians taking more cautious approach to EV adoption

Canadian consumers are becoming more cautious about electric vehicle adoption, with some delaying purchases amid concerns about cost and charging.

EY Canada’s Mobility Consumer Index found that 30 per cent of potential EV buyers are reconsidering or postponing purchases. Preference for internal combustion engine vehicles rose to 58 per cent, up from 44 per cent, while battery electric vehicle preference declined to 7 per cent from 15 per cent. Hybrids were the most preferred alternative at 17 per cent.

Cost and charging infrastructure remain key barriers. Among those favouring ICE vehicles, 32 per cent cited upfront EV costs as a concern, while 28 per cent pointed to public charger quality and interoperability. Consumers also reported challenges including difficulty locating chargers (38 per cent), high charging costs (32 per cent) and long wait times (31 per cent).

Despite these concerns, fuel prices and environmental factors continue to influence EV interest. More than half (53 per cent) of respondents cited fuel costs as a key motivator, while 47 per cent pointed to environmental considerations.

“Consumers still care about fuel costs and the environment, but they’re asking harder questions about affordability and charging reliability,” said Jennifer Rogers, automotive and transportation leader at EY Canada.

The report also found that consumers continue to rely on a mix of online and in-person channels when purchasing vehicles, with 27 per cent expressing a preference for online buying and many still valuing test drives.

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