Canada’s shift to electric vehicles is slowing as consumers weigh cost, charging reliability and confidence, according to new data released by Ernst & Young.
The firm’s annual Mobility Consumer Index, released March 19, found 30% of potential EV buyers in Canada reconsidered or postponed purchases amid broader economic and geopolitical uncertainty, while preference for internal combustion engine vehicles rose from 44% to 58% year over year. Battery electric vehicle preference fell from 15% to 7%, with hybrids holding at 17% as buyers looked for a middle ground between fuel savings and familiar refuelling.
“Canada’s EV story hasn’t stalled — rather it’s becoming more pragmatic,” says Jennifer Rogers, automotive and transportation leader at EY Canada (pictured). “Consumers still care about fuel costs and the environment, but they’re asking harder questions about affordability, charging reliability and the day-to-day experience.”
Those questions landed hardest on price and charging, but also on overall ownership confidence. Among Canadians leaning toward gasoline vehicles, 32% pointed to upfront EV costs, while 28% cited concerns about public charger quality and interoperability. The charging experience itself remained a sticking point, with 38% reporting difficulty finding stations, 32% citing high charging costs and 31% flagging long wait times, highlighting ongoing friction in the public network. Home charging brought additional hurdles, including installation costs, higher electricity bills and potential panel upgrades, adding to total cost-of-ownership concerns.
At the same time, the reasons to go electric did not disappear, even as expectations shifted. Rising fuel prices topped the list, cited by 53% of respondents, up from 45% a year earlier, while environmental concerns climbed from 34% to 47%, reinforcing that interest in EVs remains tied to both cost savings and sustainability.
Buying habits also continued to evolve alongside those attitudes. Most Canadians still started their search online, particularly in early research and comparison stages, but many wanted to see and test a vehicle in person before committing. About 37% of EV buyers and 41% of gasoline vehicle buyers said they would not purchase without a test drive.
Even so, online purchasing continued to grow, with 27% saying they preferred to complete the transaction digitally and 32% looking for a mix of online and in-person options.
The data points to a more cautious and considered phase for EV adoption in Canada, as consumers balance long-term savings and environmental goals against the practical realities of cost, infrastructure and everyday usability.
