Most Canadians would like a extra open automobile market with extra inexpensive electrical choices, based on a brand new survey performed by Abacus Knowledge on behalf of Clear Power Canada.
On the subject of the closely publicized 100% tariff on Chinese language EVs, 53% of Canadians say they would like a decrease tariff that balances business safety and client affordability, much like Europe, whereas 29% help eradicating the tariff altogether so as to decrease prices and keep away from commerce retaliation from China. Solely 19% of Canadians say they would like retaining in place a 100% tariff on Chinese language EVs.
There may be little distinction of opinion on this query between voters of every political celebration, with help for the present tariff starting from 15% amongst NDP voters to 23% amongst Conservative, suggesting a powerful cross-partisan consensus.
Respondents had been additionally offered with one other manner Canada may open up its automobile market: permitting on the market any automobile that has handed security and environmental requirements in Europe. This may enhance the supply of automobile manufacturers and fashions in Canada, together with some smaller, extra inexpensive EVs. The thought is overwhelmingly widespread, with 70% help and solely 10% opposition.
A measure already carried out in Canada was additionally put to the survey: tailpipe emission requirements, which require carmakers to enhance the gasoline effectivity of the vehicles they promote yearly. President Trump is within the strategy of weakening these requirements, whereas California is combating to take care of them in sure states.
A strong majority (58%) of Canadians consider Canada ought to uphold its present tailpipe emission requirements, according to these set by Biden and supported by California, whereas solely 18% help weakening our requirements to align with the U.S. beneath Trump.
Lastly, 45% of Canadians say they’re sure, very probably, or inclined to buy an EV as their subsequent automobile, representing a 13-point lower in comparison with when this query was requested in 2022. Curiosity, nevertheless, varies considerably based mostly on age and site. Majorities in Quebec (55%) and B.C. (53%) are nonetheless inclined to go electrical over fuel, in addition to these aged 18 to 29 (57%) and 30 to 44 (52%).
Curiosity is even larger in Canada’s massive city areas. In a survey of the Larger Toronto Hamilton Space (pattern measurement: 1,500) and Metro Vancouver (pattern measurement: 1,500) performed between November 2024 and January 2025, additionally by Abacus Knowledge on behalf of Clear Power Canada, seven in 10 respondents (69%) within the Metro Vancouver area favoured EVs.
Within the GTHA, which has far decrease EV uptake than Metro Vancouver, 55% of respondents nonetheless most popular getting an EV over a fuel automobile, whereas that quantity elevated to 62% when offered with plenty of information about EVs, suggesting a level of persuadability.
QUOTE
“The query for governments shouldn’t be whether or not Canadians wish to go electrical. It’s all the time been the case that so many do—particularly youthful Canadians. The query is how will we decrease the limitations stopping them from doing so. And the most important barrier, by far, is sticker worth. The world has high-quality, lower-cost electrical vehicles, and it’s clear that Canadians wish to get their palms on them.”
—Trevor Melanson, director of communications, Clear Power Canada
The survey was performed with 2,585 Canadians from June 2 to five, 2025. A random pattern of panelists had been invited to finish the survey from a set of companion panels based mostly on the Lucid trade 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 measurement is +/- 1.92%, 19 instances out of 20. The info had been weighted based on census information to make sure that the pattern matched Canada’s inhabitants based on age, gender, and area. Totals could not add as much as 100 because of rounding.