Canada EV market shows rising interest despite infrastructure and model availability gaps

A new survey by Abacus Data, commissioned by Clean Energy Canada, reveals that 48 per cent of Canadians are inclined to purchase an electric vehicle (EV) as their next vehicle. However, significant barriers to adoption remain. Among potential buyers, 42 per cent indicated they might wait for more Chinese-made EV models to become available, while 37 per cent cited a lack of electric pickup truck options as a deterrent.

The survey also highlighted gaps in consumer knowledge. While many respondents are aware of federal rebates and lower operating costs, awareness regarding specific pricing tiers—such as new models between $30,000 and $40,000 or used models between $20,000 and $30,000—remains low. Upfront purchase price continues to be the primary obstacle for Canadian consumers.

In terms of infrastructure, Canada added 103 new EV charging stations and 391 new ports during the third quarter of 2026, according to data from Paren. This brings the national network to 2,740 stations and 9,615 fast-charging ports. While Tesla remains a major player, its share of Canada’s DC Fast Charging ports has decreased to 32.1 per cent, down from 36.0 per cent in 2025. Other notable networks include Circuit Électrique and ChargePoint.