Canada has crossed a major transportation milestone, with more than one million electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles now on the road nationwide. The achievement highlights how rapidly EV adoption has accelerated over the past decade, transforming EVs from a niche option into a growing part of everyday transportation.
The growth over the past decade has been striking. In 2015, Canada had just 18,000 EVs on its roads. By 2020, that number had climbed to approximately 200,000, reflecting early adoption driven by incentives, limited model availability, and growing public awareness.
Fast forward to December 2025, and the country has now crossed the one-million mark according to national industry association Electric Mobility Canada—an increase of more than 56 times in just ten years.
Several factors have contributed to this rapid expansion. Vehicle choice has broadened considerably, with automakers now offering electric options across nearly every major segment, including compact cars, SUVs, pickup trucks, and luxury vehicles. Improvements in driving range, charging speed, and cold-weather performance have also helped make EVs more practical for Canadian conditions.
Government policy has played a key role as well. Federal and provincial purchase incentives, emissions regulations, and investments in public charging infrastructure have supported adoption, particularly in provinces such as Quebec and British Columbia, where EV penetration remains the highest. Nationwide, fast-charging networks have expanded along major highways and in urban centers, reducing range anxiety and improving long-distance usability.
Despite the milestone, electric vehicles still represent a relatively small share of Canada’s total vehicle fleet. However, the pace of growth suggests adoption is accelerating rather than slowing. EVs accounted for a growing percentage of new vehicle sales throughout 2024 and 2025. However, it remains to be seen how that trend will continue as federal and provincial governments reduce or eliminate EV incentives entirely.
