Nearly Half of Canadians Want an EV, but Price and Selection Remain Barriers

Key Points

48% of Canadians now lean toward an EV, up from 45% in April
Interest is highest among 18- to 29-year-olds, at 67%
42% of EV-inclined buyers may wait for more Chinese models, and 37% for more electric pickups
69% want public chargers to take debit or credit cards without an app

Nearly half of Canadians are leaning toward an electric vehicle for their next purchase, but a new poll shows why some interested shoppers might still hold off.

Abacus Data’s latest survey for Clean Energy Canada puts EV interest at 48%, compared with 45% in April and in 2025. Released October 9, the results also show that vehicle selection matters to people already considering the switch.

Among those leaning toward electric, 42% said they might wait until more Chinese EVs are available. Another 37% identified a lack of electric pickup choices as a concern about buying this year. These responses describe possible reasons to wait, rather than firm decisions to postpone a purchase.

Price is another part of the picture. Although upfront cost remains the biggest barrier, many potential buyers have limited knowledge of less expensive vehicles already on the market.

In this group, which excludes Canadians certain to choose either gas or electric, 60% were at least somewhat aware of new EVs costing $30,000 to $40,000. Only 20% were very aware. Awareness was lower for used models priced from $20,000 to $30,000, at 52% overall and 14% very aware.

That contrasts with broader knowledge of EV ownership costs. Within the same group, 69% knew electric vehicles are cheaper to own and drive, while 62% knew about the $5,000 federal rebate for eligible new vehicles.

The survey also asked what Canadians want from their vehicle market. European influence attracted 47% support, versus 21% for U.S. influence, after respondents considered the effect on brands, models, sizes and EV choices.

For public charging, the preference was clearer – 69% supported requiring chargers to accept debit or credit payments without an app, rising to 75% among EV-inclined Canadians.

Abacus surveyed 2,762 adults online from September 18 to 23 and weighted responses to reflect Canada’s population.

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