Survey finds Canadians not in favour of forced EV usage
May 13, 2024
CADA has been consistent in its support for a move to an electrified future, but has been cautioning that Ottawa’s proposed timelines with their ZEV mandates are too aggressive, and Canadians aren’t ready.
New polling data released last week by CTV/Nanos Research backs up that position.
The survey found that Canadians are almost four times more likely to oppose (50%) rather than support (13%) a total ban on gas-powered vehicles by 2035. Two thirds of Canadians either oppose or somewhat oppose the total ban.
The study looked at how Canadians felt about EV ownerships, concerns over charging infrastructure, and issues related to EV ownership.
The poll also found that interest in buying an EV was slipping. “Interest in owning an electric car among Canadians is now split, with just over half who are interested (21%) or somewhat interested (33%), an 11-percentage point decline in outright interest from 2022 (32% interested),” write the researchers in a release promoting the findings.
“The importance of this survey is that it's independent confirmation that CADA’s message to politicians about Canadian consumers being worried about the lack of charging infrastructure, vehicle affordability and availability is backed by the data,” said Huw Williams, CADA’s Director of Public Affairs. “We hear that from dealers, we hear that from consumers in the showrooms, and this polling data confirms mandates are not needed. Consumers aren't ready, and if the federal government puts a mandate in place — it will be a disaster.”
In terms of their concerns, two-thirds of respondents, 66 per cent, say they aren’t confident or are only somewhat confident Canada will have the necessary charging infrastructure in place to support widespread electric vehicle adoption.
The survey did find Canadians do support government incentives for using alternative energy sources, with seven in ten Canadians in favour.
The survey also highlighted regional differences, with support for EVs and confidence in the availability of charging infrastructure highest in Quebec, and much lower in the Atlantic provinces.
The survey was conducted with 1,086 Canadians between April 28-May 1, 2024 to measure their level of support for a ban on ICE vehicles by 2035.