'Range anxiety': What’s driving a lack of interest in electric vehicle sales?
A recent survey by AutoTrader found consumer demand for an EV is down for a second straight year.
The online survey of 1,600 Canadians over the age of 19 was conducted in February and March 2024.
Respondents were asked: Would you consider an electric vehicle for your next car purchase?
“68 per cent said that they would in 2022. It came down to 56 per cent in 2023, and now we're sitting at around 46 per cent for 2024,” Baris Akyurek told CTV News Friday.
He’s the vice-president of Insights and Intelligence for AutoTrader.
Akyurek said they took their question one step further, asking respondents why they would pick a gas-powered vehicle over an EV.
“The biggest reason is probably not a big surprise, it’s the ‘range anxiety,’” according to Akyurek. “79 per cent of the consumers don't want to buy an EV because they're anxious for their trips.”
The second concern was charging station availability, or lack thereof.
And the third reason might be the most significant, cost.
Akyurek said they crunched the numbers on AutoTrader.ca and found electric vehicles cost 15 to 20 per cent more than the same model of gas-powered car.
He did note however, the cost is starting to come down for electric vehicles.
“Demand is coming down. Supply is increasing and what's happening to prices, [they] have been coming down,” Akyurek said. “The price decline on a year-over-year basis is 17.4 per cent.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Serial sexual offender linked to unsolved 1970s homicides of four Calgary girls, women
An investigation into unsolved historical homicides from the 1970s has linked the deaths of two girls and two young women in and around Calgary to a now-deceased serial offender.
Wildfires are dampening against cool, rainy weather, but there's plenty left to contain
An opportune system of cool, wet weather Friday is dampening the spread of wildfires across Western Canada, but there's still plenty of work for responders and residents alike.
Woman with liver failure rejected for a transplant after medical review highlights alcohol use
For nearly three months, Amanda Huska has been in an Ontario hospital, part of it on life support, because of severe liver failure. Her history of alcohol use is getting in the way of her only potential treatment: a liver transplant.
$500K-worth of elvers seized at Toronto airport
Fishery and border service officers seized more than 100 kilograms of unauthorized elvers at the Toronto Pearson International Airport on Wednesday.
Dabney Coleman, actor who specialized in curmudgeons, dies at 92
Dabney Coleman, the mustachioed character actor who specialized in smarmy villains like the chauvinist boss in '9 to 5' and the nasty TV director in 'Tootsie,' has died. He was 92.
Information commissioner faces $700K funding shortfall, says system is 'overwhelmed'
Canada's information commissioner says her office is facing a $700,000 funding shortfall that could impact its ability to investigate complaints about government transparency and accountability.
Backlash over NFL player Harrison Butker's commencement speech has reached a new level
The NFL is distancing itself from controversial comments by Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker during a recent commencement address.
Craig Berube named as next head coach of Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs have named Craig Berube as their new head coach.
B.C. man 'attacked suddenly' by adult grizzly near Alberta boundary: RCMP
A B.C. man is recovering from multiple injuries after he was "attacked suddenly" by an adult grizzly bear near Elkford Thursday afternoon.