Survey: EV-related fears vanish after purchase

According to a Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) survey,¹ 97% of electric vehicle (EV) owners are so satisfied with their vehicle that they would not hesitate to buy it again. This is the main finding of this survey, which looked at the concerns of electromobilists before and after they took possession of their vehicle.

Electric vehicles (EVs) are gaining popularity across Quebec. There were over 170,000 such vehicles in the province by the end of 2022, accounting for 42% of the Canadian zero-emission fleet. The survey of 16,232 EV owners confirms that all concerns related to this type of vehicle decrease drastically after their purchase.

Quebec boasts a generous network of public charging stations. In fact, the government has announced its intention to improve the system with an investment of $60 million, which represents an expansion of 367 new charging stations across the province. This optimization will complement the subsidies allocated for the purchase of EVs, all of which are incentives for Quebecers to make the switch to electromobility.

Give it a shot, you might just love it

Range, performance in extreme cold and battery degradation are common concerns that disappear quickly once the electric vehicle has been acquired. While the availability of charging stations for long trips remains an annoyance for about one third of Canadians, Quebec is where electromobilists are the most confident: 68% of them said they had no issues with finding a fast-charging station in these instances. Also relevant is the fact that users rely on public charging stations only 30% of the time, with most of the charging being done at home. 

“This CAA survey sends a reassuring message and vindicates our electrification efforts. Our members recognize our expertise in electromobility and rely on our mobility services to make informed choices.”

- Pierre-Serge Labbé, Vice President, Mobility Services

CAA-Quebec: Keeping up with transition

The purchase of our very first Ford F-150 Lightning for Roadside Assistance services, our involvement with the Electric Circuit, and our partnership with Running Electric are all concrete examples of the orientation we’re aiming for as an organization. As the sale of new gasoline-powered vehicles is slated to end in 2035, we seek to democratize knowledge about EVs by making it widely available, most notably through our Sans détour podcast (available in French only), our presence at various auto shows, and by ensuring the accreditation of our Approved Repair Services for electric vehicles, all of which ought to facilitate the electric transition.

About CAA-Quebec

CAA-Quebec, a non-profit organization, assists each of its members by providing mobility, travel, insurance and residential benefits, products and services. CAA was named the number one most trusted brand in Canada in the annual Trusted Brand Index for 2022 by the Peter B. Gustavson School of Business at the University of Victoria.

–30–

__________

^{1 The survey was conducted by Plugshare for the Canadian Automobile Association, with a sample of 16,232 respondents between November 21 and December 11, 2022.}