Two-thirds of Canadians (66%) assist preserving in place some model of Canada’s presently paused Electrical Automobile Availability Commonplace—also known as the EV mandate—although many wish to see some adjustments.
Solely 27% of Canadians don’t want to see any federal requirement for extra electrical autos. Others are break up on an applicable degree of ambition: 16% need the coverage to be much more bold, 24% need to maintain the coverage kind of the identical, and 26% say the coverage needs to be much less inflexible or simpler to attain.
Majorities of youthful Canadians present notably stronger assist for the EV mandate, with 58% of these aged 18 to 29 wanting the coverage to keep up or improve its ambition and 55% of these aged 30 to 44 feeling likewise.
With the prospect of reducing tariffs on Chinese language EVs and permitting in European automobiles making the information in current weeks, respondents have been additionally requested about their impression of Canada’s EV market in comparison with EV markets in different international locations.
A majority (52%) imagine Canadians are paying greater than individuals in different international locations for EVs, 21% say we’re paying about the identical, and simply 6% assume we’re paying much less for these automobiles.
Because the federal authorities undergoes its 60-day evaluate of the EV mandate, one strategy it might take is to concentrate on making lower-priced EVs extra accessible to Canadians. Usually, new EVs in Canada promote for at the least $45,000, which is greater than in lots of different international locations. The federal government might, for instance, reward automakers further factors underneath the system if they provide Canadians EVs priced under $40,000 or present choices like zero-interest financing.
When offered with this concept and requested whether or not they would usually assist a revised Electrical Automobile Availability Commonplace aimed toward enhancing EV mannequin affordability, 46% like this strategy in comparison with 18% who want to maintain the coverage kind of as is. Nevertheless, simply 24% of Canadians oppose having the coverage in place when offered with this model of it, in comparison with 27% when first requested in regards to the EV mandate.
Assist for an affordability-centred EV mandate is even greater in B.C.—a province with its personal model of the coverage—at 50%, whereas one other 16% choose the coverage as is, and simply 20% desire a full repeal.
Incentive pause preserving would-be EV purchasers ready to purchase
The federal authorities paused its $5,000 EV incentive initially of 2025, whereas the brand new Liberal authorities underneath Mark Carney has signalled its intention to convey a rebate program again. Consequently, potential EV consumers have been left with two choices: both look ahead to an replace or purchase the automotive they need with out one.
Respondents have been requested how they assume this case would affect them as a purchaser in the event that they have been in the marketplace for an EV, and the overwhelming majority of these open to purchasing one say they might merely look ahead to an replace (41%) reasonably than buy an EV in the present day (14%). One other 36% say they might not purchase an EV no matter incentives, with 9% unsure.
QUOTE
“As local weather insurance policies go underneath the political microscope, it’s essential we don’t misinterpret public opinion by oversimplifying the choices earlier than us. A really robust majority of Canadians in the end assist preserving in place a model of Canada’s Electrical Automobile Availability Commonplace, and so the proper query for Mark Carney is how the coverage ought to adapt, not whether or not it ought to exist. As Canadians rightly notice they’re paying extra for EVs than individuals in different international locations, an strategy centred on reducing upfront prices could be nicely obtained by many Canadians, particularly youthful ones eager on making the change. Transportation is the second largest expense for households after housing, and lower-priced EVs would unlock appreciable financial savings for drivers each on day one and for years to come back due to appreciable fuel financial savings.”
—Trevor Melanson, director of communications, Clear Power Canada
METHODOLOGY
The survey was performed with 2,230 Canadians from September 12 to 17, 2025. A random pattern of panelists have been invited to finish the survey from a set of companion panels primarily based on the Lucid change platform. These companions are usually double opt-in survey panels, blended to handle out potential skews within the information from a single
supply. The margin of error for a comparable probability-based random pattern of the identical dimension is +/- 2.08%, 19 instances out of 20. The information have been weighted in accordance with census information to make sure that the pattern matched Canada’s inhabitants in accordance with age, gender, and area. Totals might not add as much as 100 because of rounding.