When asked if EV owners would buy another EV in the future, 87% said they are likely to repurchase an electric vehicle.
More than 90% of EV owners said the cost of fueling their EV is much better, and 79% said the cost of maintenance is much better than their previous gas-powered vehicles.
Across the region, repurchase intent is high among all EV drivers.
41% of Canadians say they drive more kilometers each day than what a single charge would be able to power. In reality, EV drivers reported that most of their travel time was within 100km from their home, a distance significantly less than the average range of an EV, which is over 400km7.
When asked, BEV drivers indicated that they travel an average of 398 kilometers per week, while PHEV drivers traveled approximately 322 kilometers.
The majority of trips for both BEV and PHEV drivers are relatively short, typically staying within 10 kilometers of home. This pattern reflects the convenience of electric driving for routine commutes and local errands.
Major concerns include battery range in extreme cold weather, charging locations and range anxiety.
Only 31% of EV drivers were completely satisfied with the availability of public DC fast charging locations.
Fast charging remains limited, especially in less urban provinces, posing a challenge for EV drivers in these areas.
A third of EV drivers indicated their gas vehicle requires less frequent tire changes and the replacements are cheaper.
67% said lower battery range in extreme cold weather has been a problem since owning an EV.
In general, more than 80 percent of charging is done at home.
BEV:
When asked about their charging behaviours, 66% of BEV drivers say they primarily use Level 2 chargers at home.
Fun fact: This is a 13% increase from 2022, highlighting the convenience and growing adoption of home charging solutions.
PHEV:
46% of PHEV drivers primarily rely on Level 1 home charging, utilizing standard household outlets for their charging needs.
People who live in multi-unit dwellings (like apartments or condominiums) represent a much smaller percentage of EV adopters in Canada than those who live in single family homes.
Similarly, renters are much less likely to be EV drivers, compared to those who own their homes.
Multi-unit dwellings often have communal, open parking areas where it is difficult to reliably place electrical outlets (especially higher-power 208-240V outlets) or to hardwire chargers. Renters, on the other hand, often need landlord approval to install a charger, and many drivers are unwilling to pay to install a charger in a home they do not own.
Owners of both BEVs and PHEVs find the cost of owning an EV is well worth it.