A lack of reliable and convenient public charging is the biggest problem for electric vehicle owners in Canada, a recent report revealed.
The Canadian Automobile Association’s recently released survey that includes 16,000 EV owners found their concerns come even as many plan to buy another EV as their next vehicle purchase. The findings reveal a contrast between what consumers plan on doing and their fears about the very vehicle they drive and plan to purchase in the future.
“Our survey paints a picture of people happy they bought an EV, saying they are cheaper to operate and easier to maintain than their previous gas-powered vehicles,” said Ian Jack, Vice-President of Public Affairs at CAA National in a statement.
“But it also found the experience of EV owners mirrors some of what the general public thinks — public charging isn’t good enough, especially outside major urban centres, and they are concerned about being caught with a dead battery in the winter,” he added.
CAA found that seven in 10 EV drivers are not satisfied with the number of fast chargers available. When asked about longer journeys in cold weather, 53 per cent noted they would rather drive a gas-engine vehicle on long trips in extremely cold weather. Furthermore, 67 per cent said lower battery range in extreme cold weather has been problematic for them.
Still, 87 per cent plan to buy another EV as their next vehicle purchase, and more than 90 per cent of those surveyed said the cost of fuelling their vehicle is much lower. Another 79 per cent said the cost of maintenance is much better than their previous gasoline-powered vehicle.
The full survey is available here.
