Two-thirds of Canadians (66%) assist conserving in place some model of Canada’s at present paused Electrical Automobile Availability Customary—also known as the EV mandate—although many want to see some adjustments.
Solely 27% of Canadians don’t want to see any federal requirement for extra electrical autos. Others are cut up on an applicable stage of ambition: 16% need the coverage to be much more formidable, 24% need to preserve the coverage roughly the identical, and 26% say the coverage ought 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 take care of or enhance its ambition and 55% of these aged 30 to 44 feeling likewise.
With the prospect of decreasing tariffs on Chinese language EVs and permitting in European vehicles 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% suppose we’re paying much less for these vehicles.
Because the federal authorities undergoes its 60-day evaluate of the EV mandate, one strategy it may take is to deal with making lower-priced EVs extra accessible to Canadians. Usually, new EVs in Canada promote for at the least $45,000, which is increased than in lots of different international locations. The federal government may, for instance, reward automakers further factors below 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 typically assist a revised Electrical Automobile Availability Customary geared toward enhancing EV mannequin affordability, 46% like this strategy in comparison with 18% who want to preserve the coverage roughly as is. Nonetheless, 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 increased 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% need a full repeal.
Incentive pause conserving would-be EV purchasers ready to purchase
The federal authorities paused its $5,000 EV incentive at first of 2025, whereas the brand new Liberal authorities below Mark Carney has signalled its intention to convey a rebate program again. Consequently, potential EV patrons 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 suppose this case would affect them as a purchaser in the event that they have been available on the market for an EV, and the overwhelming majority of these open to purchasing one say they’d merely look ahead to an replace (41%) somewhat than buy an EV at this time (14%). One other 36% say they’d not purchase an EV no matter incentives, with 9% unsure.
QUOTE
“As local weather insurance policies go below the political microscope, it’s necessary we don’t misinterpret public opinion by oversimplifying the choices earlier than us. A really robust majority of Canadians in the end assist conserving in place a model of Canada’s Electrical Automobile Availability Customary, 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 decreasing upfront prices could be effectively obtained by many Canadians, particularly youthful ones eager on making the swap. Transportation is the second greatest 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 because of appreciable fuel financial savings.”
—Trevor Melanson, director of communications, Clear Vitality Canada
METHODOLOGY
The survey was carried out 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 based mostly on the Lucid alternate platform. These companions are sometimes 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 keeping with census information to make sure that the pattern matched Canada’s inhabitants in keeping with age, gender, and area. Totals could not add as much as 100 because of rounding.
