Two-thirds of Canadians (66%) help retaining in place some model of Canada’s at present paused Electrical Automobile Availability Commonplace—sometimes called 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 automobiles. Others are break up on an applicable stage 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 must be much less inflexible or simpler to realize.
Majorities of youthful Canadians present notably stronger help 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 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 assessment of the EV mandate, one method it may take is to deal with making lower-priced EVs extra accessible to Canadians. Sometimes, new EVs in Canada promote for a minimum of $45,000, which is larger than in lots of different international locations. The federal government may, for instance, reward automakers additional factors underneath the system if they provide Canadians EVs priced beneath $40,000 or present choices like zero-interest financing.
When introduced with this concept and requested whether or not they would typically help a revised Electrical Automobile Availability Commonplace geared toward enhancing EV mannequin affordability, 46% like this method in comparison with 18% who want to maintain the coverage kind of as is. Nonetheless, simply 24% of Canadians oppose having the coverage in place when introduced 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 larger 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 retaining would-be EV purchasers ready to purchase
The federal authorities paused its $5,000 EV incentive in the beginning of 2025, whereas the brand new Liberal authorities underneath Mark Carney has signalled its intention to carry a rebate program again. Because of this, potential EV patrons have been left with two choices: both await an replace or purchase the automobile 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 available on the market for an EV, and the overwhelming majority of these open to purchasing one say they’d merely await an replace (41%) moderately than buy an EV at the moment (14%). One other 36% say they’d not purchase an EV no matter incentives, with 9% unsure.
QUOTE
“As local weather insurance policies go underneath the political microscope, it’s necessary we don’t misinterpret public opinion by oversimplying the choices earlier than us. A really sturdy majority of Canadians finally help retaining 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 method centred on decreasing upfront prices can be nicely acquired by many Canadians, particularly youthful ones eager on making the change. 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 gasoline financial savings.”
—Trevor Melanson, director of communications, Clear Vitality 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 based mostly on the Lucid change 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 measurement is +/- 2.08%, 19 occasions out of 20. The info 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 attributable to rounding.
