Nearly half of Atlantic Canadian drivers open to buying electric vehicle: survey

New research finds electric vehicles are experiencing a surge in searches and sales.

Nearly half of Atlantic Canadian drivers say they’re open to buying an electric vehicle, according to a new survey by AutoTrader.

The company’s annual survey on electric vehicles found an uptick in interest in them across Canada for the first time since 2022. Forty-nine per cent of non-owners said they would consider buying an electric vehicle, according to the survey.

“Back in 2022, it was sitting at 68 per cent, the following year it came down to 56 per cent, 46 per cent and then 42 per cent last year and this year for the first time since the inception of the survey we saw an uptick in purchasing intentions,” said Baris Akyurek, vice president of insights and intelligence with AutoTrader.

In Atlantic Canada, 46 per cent of respondents said they are open to electric vehicles, up from 41 per cent in the previous survey.

This year’s survey, which contacted 1,761 Canadians, found interest in electric vehicles is strongest in Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia.

“Affordability continues to be a leading driver of EV consideration,” the survey reads. “According to the latest survey findings, fuel savings and efficiency (89%), environmental benefits (55%), low maintenance costs (53%), and a lower total cost of ownership over time (46%) rank among the top motivators for prospective buyers.”

The survey also noted volatile fuel prices might also be influencing people to consider electric vehicles.

“Periods of geopolitical instability and rising fuel costs have historically pushed buyers towards alternatives to gas-powered vehicles,” the survey reads.

With files from CTV News Atlantic’s Emma Convey